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Topics: News, US News, Donald Trump
Gerrard Kaonga
The White House has hit out at a reporter who questioned the ongoing construction to make way for Donald Trump’s ballroom.
President Trump has been rather excited about the ballroom he is building at the White House, but so far, things haven’t gone exactly to plan.
Earlier this week, Trump admitted that his gold-plated 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which aims to host up to 650 people at once, would cost $100 million more than initially anticipated, bringing the total to $300 million.
It will also result in the entire East Wing being demolished 'within days', according to the Trump administration, which seemingly contradicts what the 79-year-old had previously said.
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Trump has appeared seemingly undeterred, however, as he said: “Nobody’s actually seen anything quite like it. I think it’ll be one of the great ballrooms anywhere in the world; it’s about $300 million.
"In order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure.”
This has resulted in further criticism from those who aren’t too excited about the ballroom construction.
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed some of the pushback over the move during her weekly press briefing.
In an exchange with a reporter, Leavitt seemed to claim that the White House can tear down whatever it wants.
During the briefing, the reporter said: “So the White House has explained that the reason you didn't submit construction plans to the NCPC is because that commission, along with others, doesn't have oversight over demolitions, but only over construction."
They went on to say that if the president can demolish a part of the Oval Office, then 'can the president tear down anything he wants without oversight', adding: "Could he demolish this building or, say, the Jefferson Memorial?"
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In response, Leavitt argued that it wasn’t Trump who came up with that legal opinion and said the NCPC has held it for years.
She said: “It's written, so we can get you that background and that research, if you wish, to include it in your reporting because it is very important."
According to Leavitt, the National Capital Planning Commission had ruled in favor of this, as she continued: “Their general counsel said when it comes to phase one of this project, the tearing down of the current East Wing structure, a submission is not required legally for that.”
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She added that construction plans are required only for vertical construction and insisted that this was the NCPC's 'legal opinion', which she said they are 'following'.
However, when the reporter continued to press Leavitt on the issue, she went on to say that Trump wasn't the only president to have made changes to the White House.
"There have been many presidents in the past who have made their mark on this beautiful White House complex," she said. "This briefing room, as you all know, was not once a briefing room. It was a swimming pool. There have been presidents who have completely torn down the executive mansion."
She concluded by saying that the East Wing would be 'more beautiful and modern than ever before', adding: "And in addition, there will be a big, beautiful ballroom that can hold big parties and state visits for generations to come."