Trump's White House Makeover: A Post-Democratic Project
The White House, once a symbol of democracy and the people's house, is undergoing a radical transformation under President Trump. The demolition of the East Wing and the Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Garden is just the beginning, as Trump remakes the historic building to suit his own ego and ideology.
A 90,000 square foot gilded ballroom, dubbed "The Donald J. Trump Ballroom," is set to be financed by private donors whose names will be engraved on the structure's edifice. This lavish space is designed to accommodate 650 wealthy VIPs, a far cry from the inclusive ideals of the original White House.
Trump's makeover of the White House follows the same pattern as his beloved Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The iconic Rose Garden has been paved over as a concrete patio, and the president's physical presence is being reinforced throughout the building with gilded details.
But this transformation is not just about aesthetics; it's a deliberate attempt to reshape American society and erode democratic values. As University of California, Berkeley professor Robert Reich notes, the new ballroom will be Trump's "Versailles" – a monument to greed and a new Gilded Age.
Experts warn that Trump's authoritarian project is part of a broader trend towards post-democratic America. Former labor secretary and professor R. Grant Gilmore III explains that dictators and tyrants build monumental architecture to bolster their own egos, while erasing or overshadowing the memory of their predecessors.
Trump's actions are targeting not just the building but the stories it tells. By challenging narratives that depart from white, Anglo-Saxon origin myths, he is using his power to roll back decades of work towards creating a more inclusive national history.
The president's declaration that what was once the people's house now belongs to him and his MAGA movement is becoming increasingly clear. His repeated hints about serving an unconstitutional third term are a stark reminder of his ambition to cling to power.
Experts warn that Trump's tactics, including voter nullification, voter suppression, and efforts to restrict civil rights, are eroding American democracy. Federal judges are now warning that if Trump can violate the Constitution and the Posse Comitatus Act by using the National Guard against the American people, then the country's democracy will be functionally over.
The Steady State network of former national security officers and experts has issued a similar warning: The United States is on a trajectory towards authoritarian rule. A Bright Line Watch survey of more than 500 political scientists reached the same conclusion, finding that America is rapidly becoming an authoritarian state.
As the mainstream news media and political class continue to adapt to Trump's reality, they must accept that the old rules of politics no longer apply. Anything less is civic malpractice – a betrayal of the American people.
The White House, once a symbol of democracy and the people's house, is undergoing a radical transformation under President Trump. The demolition of the East Wing and the Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Garden is just the beginning, as Trump remakes the historic building to suit his own ego and ideology.
A 90,000 square foot gilded ballroom, dubbed "The Donald J. Trump Ballroom," is set to be financed by private donors whose names will be engraved on the structure's edifice. This lavish space is designed to accommodate 650 wealthy VIPs, a far cry from the inclusive ideals of the original White House.
Trump's makeover of the White House follows the same pattern as his beloved Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The iconic Rose Garden has been paved over as a concrete patio, and the president's physical presence is being reinforced throughout the building with gilded details.
But this transformation is not just about aesthetics; it's a deliberate attempt to reshape American society and erode democratic values. As University of California, Berkeley professor Robert Reich notes, the new ballroom will be Trump's "Versailles" – a monument to greed and a new Gilded Age.
Experts warn that Trump's authoritarian project is part of a broader trend towards post-democratic America. Former labor secretary and professor R. Grant Gilmore III explains that dictators and tyrants build monumental architecture to bolster their own egos, while erasing or overshadowing the memory of their predecessors.
Trump's actions are targeting not just the building but the stories it tells. By challenging narratives that depart from white, Anglo-Saxon origin myths, he is using his power to roll back decades of work towards creating a more inclusive national history.
The president's declaration that what was once the people's house now belongs to him and his MAGA movement is becoming increasingly clear. His repeated hints about serving an unconstitutional third term are a stark reminder of his ambition to cling to power.
Experts warn that Trump's tactics, including voter nullification, voter suppression, and efforts to restrict civil rights, are eroding American democracy. Federal judges are now warning that if Trump can violate the Constitution and the Posse Comitatus Act by using the National Guard against the American people, then the country's democracy will be functionally over.
The Steady State network of former national security officers and experts has issued a similar warning: The United States is on a trajectory towards authoritarian rule. A Bright Line Watch survey of more than 500 political scientists reached the same conclusion, finding that America is rapidly becoming an authoritarian state.
As the mainstream news media and political class continue to adapt to Trump's reality, they must accept that the old rules of politics no longer apply. Anything less is civic malpractice – a betrayal of the American people.
THE WHITE HOUSE IS BEING TURNED INTO SOME KIND OF FANCY NIGHTCLUB FOR RICH PEOPLE!!!!! IT'S LIKE TRUMP WANTS TO ERASE THE HISTORY AND VALUES THAT MADE AMERICA GREAT IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! 
THE IDEA OF A 90,000 SQUARE FOOT BALLROOM FINANCIED BY PRIVATE DONORS WHO GET THEIR NAMES ON THE BUILDING IS JUST CRAZY!!! IT'S NOT ABOUT PRESERVING DEMOCRACY OR CREATING A BETTER SOCIETY, IT'S ALL ABOUT TRUMP'S OWN EGO AND POWER GRAB!!! 
meanwhile where are the regular people? seems like trump is more worried about pleasing his base of rich friends than actually serving the american people 
I'm telling you, this White House makeover is just the tip of the iceberg... or should I say, the gilded edge 
. And don't even get me started on this "post-democratic" thing... it sounds like a recipe for disaster 
. I mean, what's next? Private donors gettin' to decide our laws and regulations? It's like Trump's got his eyes on the prize: total control 
. Mark my words, this is just the beginning of the end for American democracy 
.
and honestly, what's next? A $1k entrance fee just to see the Oval Office? 
The idea of Trump building some private ballroom that costs more than a small country's GDP is just mind-boggling 
and the people rising up against the elite. I'm not buying the "it's just about aesthetics" narrative, this is a full-on power grab 
being replaced by a concrete patio... that just feels so... authoritarian 
