President Donald Trump is touting new changes to the Kennedy Center amid criticism over the construction of his planned ballroom.
Trump has faced fierce backlash from critics after tearing down the East Wing of the White House for his $300 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom, despite previously pledging to not “interfere” with the historic building’s existing structure. The White House has maintained that Trump and individual donors, including companies such as Amazon, Apple and Google, are funding the construction.
In a post on his Truth Social platform early Monday, Trump pointed to upcoming renovations at the Kennedy Center, including its exterior columns, painted in white, which replaced what he described as “the fake looking gold paint that was there for years.”
“Many major improvements are being made, including seating, carpeting, wall coverings, ceilings, chandeliers, stages, heating and A/C, etc., to what will soon be the finest Arts and Entertainment Center anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote, calling the prominent hub the “new TRUMP KENNEDY, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER.”
Trump also said the center will remain fully open during construction.
“I am doing the same thing to the United States of America, but only on a ‘slightly’ larger scale!” he added in the post.
The modifications come as Trump took over the Kennedy Center earlier this year, appointing himself as chair and replacing members of the board of trustees to combat what he referred to as its “woke agenda.” Meanwhile, he had hinted at renaming the hub after himself.
Trump praised the start of the ballroom’s demolition efforts on Truth Social last Monday, describing the project as “completely separate from the White House itself.”
“The East Wing is being fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!” Trump wrote.
The project, which is expected to be completed before the end of Trump’s term, according to the White House, marks a significant change to the White House exterior since former President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the East Wing in 1942, which has traditionally housed the first lady and staff. It is also an expansion since Trump first announced the idea of a ballroom in June, with its overall cost ticking up from $250 million.
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