U.S. President Donald Trump is pressing ahead with an ambitious plan to reshape Washington, D.C., unveiling a series of high-profile construction and renovation projects that include a new White House ballroom, a towering Independence Arch, upgrades to historic landmarks and a redesigned public golf course.
While supporters describe the projects as efforts to modernise the nation’s capital, critics argue they come at a time when Americans are more concerned about rising living costs and the preservation of historic sites.
One of the most notable projects is the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, announced in April. The more than US$16 million project was completed on June 6, but reports soon emerged of peeling paint and algae turning the water green. Trump blamed vandals for the damage and warned that anyone caught interfering with the site would face arrest.
The administration is also constructing a 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom, expected to accommodate up to 1,000 guests. Initially estimated to cost US$400 million, Trump had said the project would be funded by himself and private donors before later seeking US$1 billion from Congress for additional security features. Although lawmakers did not approve the funding, construction has continued. The project has drawn legal challenges after the demolition of the historic East Wing to make way for the new structure.
At the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a Trump-appointed board voted last year to rename the venue the Trump Kennedy Center, triggering public backlash, cancelled performances and declining ticket sales. A judge later ordered Trump’s name removed from the building and halted planned renovations, prompting Trump to say he would transfer control of the centre back to Congress.
Inside the White House, Trump has extensively redesigned the Oval Office, introducing gold accents, historic portraits, statues of Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin, as well as a copy of the Declaration of Independence displayed on the wall.
The Rose Garden has also undergone significant changes, with its traditional lawn replaced by a white stone patio featuring outdoor seating. Trump said the redesign would prevent visitors wearing high heels from sinking into the grass. Additional statues, new flagpoles and a black granite walkway have also been added around the White House grounds.
Among the administration’s most ambitious proposals is the Independence Arch, a planned 250-foot monument across the Potomac River inspired by Paris’ Arc de Triomphe but considerably larger. However, the proposal faces uncertainty as its height could interfere with aircraft approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Trump is also moving forward with plans for a National Garden of American Heroes, backed by US$40 million in congressional funding. The park is expected to feature statues honouring America’s founding fathers, military figures, civil rights leaders, athletes, artists and entertainers, although preservation groups have filed lawsuits seeking to stop the project.
In addition, Trump wants to redevelop the century-old East Potomac Golf Links, aiming to transform the public course into a venue capable of hosting major golf tournaments. The proposal is also facing legal challenges from groups arguing it violates existing laws.
Several of the projects remain tied up in court proceedings, with preservationists questioning their impact on Washington’s historic landscape and the administration’s legal authority to carry out the extensive redevelopment.
