President Donald Trump is pushing back on criticism from former First Lady Michelle Obama and other Democrats who accuse him of “denigrating” the White House.
Trump is defending his plan to renovate the East Wing and transform the historic structure with a privately funded, state-of-the-art White House ballroom.
Speaking with Fox News host Laura Ingraham Monday night, Trump said the project will finally give the White House the capacity needed for major state functions.
“The East Wing is being spent by private donors,” Trump said.
“It’s a $250, $300 million building. It’s going to be the most beautiful anywhere in the world.
“They had an event [at the White House] the other day.
“With tables, they could hold 79 people.
“Now, if you have President Xi from China, or if you have some big state event, we have no place to have it.”
Trump described the current event limitations as embarrassing for a global superpower.
“You know what they did?” the president asked.
“They will put a tent on the lawn.
“It was a low section because that’s the only section you have…
“If it rained, you were sitting in six inches of water. It was a disaster,” he said.
Michelle Obama Claims the Renovation “Denigrates” the First Lady’s Office
Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the loudest critics of Trump’s decision to remove the East Wing, where the first lady’s office has traditionally operated.
In remarks highlighted by Slay News, she argued the project disrespects the role of the first lady.
“When we talk about the East Wing, it is the heart of the work [of a first lady],” Obama said.
“And to denigrate it, to tear it down, to pretend like it doesn’t matter, it’s a reflection of how you think of that role.”
During an NBC appearance, she added:
“There’s no guidebook.
“There’s barely a staff.
“Now we don’t have a building.”
Her comments have been echoed by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, and other anti-Trump Democrat officials who have blasted the demolition as disrespectful and unnecessary.
Trump Points to Decades of East Wing Alterations
Trump dismissed claims that the East Wing’s historical value is being erased.
He noted that the structure has already been heavily modified multiple times.
“That building was renovated 20 times, including adding a floor to the top, which was terrible,” Trump said.
“It looked like hell. It had nothing to do with the original building, and I didn’t want to sacrifice a great ballroom for an okay ballroom by leaving it right smack in the middle.”
A First-Ever Formal Ballroom for the White House
The plan calls for a sprawling 90,000-square-foot expansion that will give the White House a formal ballroom for the first time in its history.
The construction will be paid for entirely by private donors and will follow the classical architectural design associated with the historic residence.
Trump argues the project will elevate the United States’ ability to host foreign dignitaries, adding that major allies, including China, expect facilities appropriate for high-level state ceremonies.
Democrats continue to insist the East Wing should remain intact.
The administration maintains the new ballroom will strengthen White House diplomacy for decades to come.
READ MORE – Michelle Obama: ‘I’m Lost’ and ‘Confused’ in Trump’s America
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