Article details how Trump has turned the White House into a fortress and DC into a war zone...

[SouthernCal_Dem]

WASHINGTON — For the past three years, I’ve covered a culture war from inside the White House. This week, it felt more like I was covering an actual war.

The White House has become a fortress inside a fortress following the protests triggered by the death of George Floyd. Entering feels like going into a Green Zone in the nation’s capital, with block after block of tall, black reinforced fencing erected in recent days.

There are tan military vehicles rolling past the Pennsylvania Avenue Starbucks and camo-clad troops patrolling the corner where tourists used to buy red, white and blue USA sweatshirts.

Lafayette Square, across from the White House — normally full of selfie-taking tourists, older men playing chess and a handful of often-eccentric protesters — is now behind the steel fence perimeter and filled with National Guard troops and armed Secret Service agents. Protesters have been pushed back so far they can no longer be seen and are barely heard from the People’s House.

Covering this White House, I’ve witnessed countless moments, big and small, that I could have never anticipated. This week provided more than its fair share.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/covering-white-house-fortified-war-zone-n1226251

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Here's the key, I think:

"Protesters have been pushed back so far they can no longer be seen and are barely heard from the People’s House." His Lardship really, really does not want to see or hear the thousands of people who hate his ugly orange ass and are fixing to vote it out of that house in November. All those cops and soldiers and fences aren't there to protect him or the property - it was already very secure - but to make it so he doesn't have to look out a window and see the people who don't want him there. All he can see now are "his" soldiers.

[SouthernCal_Dem]

2. Great point!

Much of it is about about protecting his already heavily bruised ego.

[Phoenix61]

3. And people thought Nixon was paranoid. nt