Trump posted photographs of the South side of the White House to Truth Social early Thursday, highlighting restoration of the exterior as well as a new South Entrance and helipad. "Actual pictures of our fully renovated White House facade, facing South, with the new South Entrance, and Heliport!" Trump wrote. "It had to be done, and I am very proud to be the President who did it!" Trump added.
The work comes amid a much broader transformation of the White House complex during Trump's second term, including work on the North Portico, changes to the Rose Garden and extensive construction on the site of the former East Wing for a new ballroom and military complex. Trump said Thursday that the ballroom and military complex were "on time, and on budget," describing them as an "unbelievably beautiful addition" to the White House. The project has been the subject of legal challenges and scrutiny over its cost and funding, with the Supreme Court allowing construction to continue in August while litigation over the project proceeds.
Newsweek has contacted the White House and National Park Service for further comment. Trump's newly released photographs focus on the South facade, one of the most recognizable views of the White House. The South Portico, with its curved colonnade and Truman Balcony above it, faces the South Lawn and has historically served as an arrival and departure point for presidents and foreign leaders.
Trump said the work addressed deterioration to both the building's exterior walls and decorative architectural features. "Over the years, the facade, both North and South, suffered tremendous wear, tear, and damage," he wrote. "The exterior walls and ornamentation, both missing and in bad condition, has been fully restored to the Highest Level, giving the White House many decades of additional life!" The president did not provide a detailed breakdown of the restoration work or its cost.
Work has also been underway on the White House's North Portico. The Washington Post reported in September that workers had spent roughly two months repairing the historic columns and strengthening the entrance before coverings surrounding the structure began to be removed. The White House itself dates to the 1790s, although the building has repeatedly been rebuilt, expanded and renovated.
The South Portico was constructed during James Monroe's presidency in the 1820s, while the North Portico was added several years later under Andrew Jackson. The West Wing was constructed during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency in 1902 and the White House underwent a near-total interior reconstruction during Harry Truman's presidency between 1948 and 1952. The facade restoration is part of a series of changes Trump has made to the White House and its grounds, among the most significant being the ballroom and associated East Wing redevelopment.
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