How Donald Trump is transforming the white house with gold, flagpoles, and a $200 million ballroom
Donald Trump has brought his trademark 'Trumpness' to the White House, loud, lavish, and impossible to ignore. Six months into his second term, he has already reshaped the mansion with towering flagpoles, a stone-paved Rose Garden, and plans for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom.
As he puts it, it's 'a great legacy project.'
Gold, flagpoles, and a paved Rose Garden
According to The Washington Post, Trump personally oversaw the design and installation of two massive flagpoles on the North and South Lawns. Their steel structure and tapered shape were chosen by him, and they now fly giant American flags visible to passengers landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Watching the work in June, Trump told reporters, 'I love construction.
I know it better than anybody.
'
The Rose Garden has undergone one of its most dramatic changes in decades. Grass has been removed and replaced with light-colored stone pavers, modeled after the patio at Mar-a-Lago. Presidential seals have been embedded into the stone, and even the drainage grates are designed as American flags. Explaining the change, Trump said, 'It's not a pretty sight… when it rains… the women with their lovely evening gowns… they're a mess by the time they get (there).
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute
Navy Quest
Undo
'
Source: X
According to the White House, these renovations were funded through private donations, though no price tag has been disclosed.
Ballroom that shines
The centerpiece of Trump's plan is still to come — a permanent ballroom off the East Wing. At 90,000 square feet, it would be the first major structural addition to the White House in decades, tripling the amount of indoor ballroom space. 'No president knew how to build a ballroom,' Trump said last weekend while meeting the European Commission president in Scotland.
'I could take this one, drop it right down there, and it would be beautiful.
'
Renderings released by the White House show gold and crystal chandeliers, gilded Corinthian columns, a coffered ceiling with gold inlays, gold floor lamps, and a checkered marble floor. Three walls of arched windows would overlook the South Grounds. The style, by Trump's own admission, is heavily inspired by the Louis XIV-style main room at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump says the $200 million price tag will be covered by himself and other private donors. 'It won't interfere with the current building,' he said this week. 'It'll be near it, but not touching it, and pays total respect to the existing building, which I'm the biggest fan of.'
Legacy built to last
While changes to the Oval Office's decor, such as the gold detailing and cherubs imported from Florida, could easily be reversed, the larger structural projects may endure.
As The Washington Post notes, removing the flagpoles might appear unpatriotic, tearing up the Rose Garden stonework would be expensive, and demolishing a nearly quarter-billion-dollar ballroom is unlikely.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praised the renovations: 'I've been coming to this building for 65 years and I have to say that it has never looked better.' For Trump, the motivation is as much about personal vision as history. 'This'll be a great legacy project,' he said. And, as with so many things in his career, he is determined to make it big, bold, and built to be remembered.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
a minute ago
- Hans India
Trump tariffs a 'slow burn' for Wall Street, likely to hit US economy hard
New Delhi: The reciprocal tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump are a "slow burn" for Wall Street, as they rarely trigger an immediate crisis - but over time, they warp markets, squeeze consumers, and invite retaliation, according to a new report. Investors and policymakers alike would do well to remember that just because the storm isn't here yet doesn't mean it isn't coming, says Zoya Najeeb in an opinion piece in One World Outlook. "While Wall Street pours champagne over record-high stock indexes, the US economy is quietly swallowing a bitter pill: tariffs. The same markets that panicked in April are now shrugging at the reality of a new trade regime - one that could be far costlier than investors seem willing to admit," the article highlighted. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently cheered $29 billion in tariff revenue collected in July, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick predicting $50 billion a month soon. "But tariffs are taxes by another name, and this is a tax hike on Americans at a time when the bottom half of the income ladder is already straining," according to the write-up. Caterpillar Inc., an American construction, mining and other engineering equipment manufacturer, estimates the new tariffs will cost it up to $1.5 billion this year - half a billion in the current quarter alone. "Yet its stock barely flinched, thanks to investor faith in unrelated booms in AI data centres and infrastructure spending. It's a neat metaphor for today's K-shaped economy: Wall Street soars while Main Street watches grocery bills spike and more households turn to 'buy now, pay later' plans just to make ends meet," the report highlighted. The AI gold rush may be propping up the stock indexes, but strip out tech and the S&P 500 is flat. "Even Warren Buffett - hardly a doomsayer - has been quietly selling for 11 straight quarters, amassing a $344 billion war chest to deploy when prices fall. He's betting on a downturn, even if the rest of the market isn't," said the report. In the meantime, former US House Speaker Paul Ryan has warned that "choppy waters are ahead because I think they're (tariffs) going to have some legal challenges."
Economic Times
a minute ago
- Economic Times
No president's gift collection looks like Trump's: Here's what makes it so different
Reuters A gift given by Apple CEO Tim Cook to U.S. President Donald Trump Donald Trump, throughout his presidency, has been the recipient of an extraordinary array of gifts—from luxury jets worth hundreds of millions to golden golf clubs and bespoke plaques. These presents reflect not only diplomatic gestures but also the spectacle around Trump's unique place on the global stage. The latest dazzling addition to the collection was a commemorative plaque gifted by Apple CEO Tim Cook in August 2025. This plaque features a circular piece of Corning Gorilla Glass mounted on a 24-karat gold base crafted by a former US Marine working at Apple. It was presented alongside the announcement of Apple's $600 billion investment in American manufacturing, symbolizing an intertwining of corporate influence, patriotism, and the Trump-era flair for ostentation. Yet, this shining gift is but one of many that have sparked media attention and public debate over the years. Earlier in 2025, Trump accepted perhaps the most expensive gift ever bestowed upon a US president—a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar. Valued at approximately $400 million, this 'palace in the sky' was intended as a replacement for Air Force One during his remaining time in office, later to be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation. This gift sums up to be more in cost and spectacle than nearly all presidential gifts in recent history. According to White House spokesman Davis Ingle, these lavish gifts often symbolize historic investments and diplomatic goodwill inspired by Trump's 'bold vision' for American industry and international relations, reported Axios. Other eye-catching presents include: A full set of 1984 Olympic medals recognizing Trump's role as Chair of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Gold-plated luxury golf clubs gifted by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, intended to cement a "special relationship," although these clubs are notably missing from the National Archives. Diplomatic gifts during his tenure range from a ruby and emerald pendant necklace from Saudi King Salman, valued at $6,400, to a bronze Arabian horse sculpture from Bahrain's Crown Prince, as well as intricately carved stone artifacts and personalized books of Psalms from religious officials during high-profile visits. A nearly $5,000 Mont Blanc writing set from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and gemstone portraits from world leaders like Vietnam's Prime Minister contributed further to the eclectic trove. The White House in the Trump era is witnessing a marked shift from the traditionally understated to the extravagant and personalized, reflecting Trump's personality and the global political dynamics of his time. However, the acceptance of such lavish gifts has also drawn legal and ethical scrutiny. A 2023 report by the then Democrat-led House Committee on Oversight and Accountability revealed that the Trump administration failed to report at least 117 foreign gifts during his first term. Some of these valued up to $24,000, including Saudi daggers, swords, and luxury winter coats, breaching disclosure rules governing presidential gifts. The missing gold golf clubs from Japan symbolize concerns about formal record-keeping and these gifts have been accepted, there are provisions that, in cases, prohibits the US president from accepting gifts from foreign governments. Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the US Constitution prohibits any federal official, including the President, from accepting personal gifts from foreign governments or foreign officials without the consent of Congress. The Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act (1966) governs acceptance of gifts from foreign governments. Gifts from foreign officials above a minimal value threshold (set by the General Services Administration) must be declared and typically become property of the United States, housed in the National Archives or presidential libraries unless purchased by the President.
Indian Express
a minute ago
- Indian Express
Trump administration threatens to seize Harvard patents in federal funding dispute
The Trump administration has warned Harvard University that it could lose control of its lucrative patent portfolio, adding to the ongoing confrontation between the White House and the Ivy League institution, reported The Guardian. In a letter posted online Friday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accused Harvard of breaching legal and contractual obligations tied to research funded by the federal government. Lutnick said the Commerce Department had initiated a 'march-in' process under the Bayh-Dole Act, which allows the government to take ownership of patents or issue new licences if certain requirements are not met. 'The Department places immense value on the groundbreaking scientific and technological advancements that emerge from the Government's partnerships with institutions like Harvard,' Lutnick wrote. He added that the university had a 'critical responsibility' to ensure that the federally funded intellectual property benefits the American public. Lutnick gave Harvard four weeks to submit a list of all patents linked to federal research grants, including details on their use and whether licensing agreements require 'substantial US manufacturing', The Guardian reported. As of 1 July 2024, Harvard's Office of Technology Development reported more than 5,800 active patents and over 900 technology licences with 650 industry partners. The patent review is the latest step in a broader White House campaign against Harvard, which the administration has accused of violating civil rights law by not fully complying with directives on addressing alleged antisemitism linked to student protests over Israel's war in Gaza. In April, Harvard sued the federal government after billions of dollars in research funding were frozen or revoked. Other universities under similar scrutiny, including Columbia University and Brown University, have reached financial settlements with Washington. Enacted in 1980, the bipartisan Bayh-Dole Act allows institutions to retain ownership of inventions developed with federal funding, provided they meet certain conditions. Supporters, including former President Jimmy Carter, have described the law as key to fostering innovation and strengthening the US economy. (With inputs from The Guardian)
