I am not convinced that Trump will actually build that ballroom.

[drray23]

So far, what we know is:
1) he obviously demolished the east wing
2) There are no drawings/plans that were submitted or apparently available
3) The renderings look like they were produced by an intern using AI
4) 90,000 sq feet is so grotesquely big, it would be barely fit on the white house grounds (see another DUer post on this)
5) The cost estimate of 300 million is many times more per square foot than a building of this size would require

What I think is more likely is that Trump lashed out and decided to level the east wing just because he can.
The donations that those oligarchs made will mostly end up in Trump's pocket.

Come January 2029, we will retake the white house, and the new president will have to deal with the aftermath and fix it.

[Shellback Squid]

1. good theory

[womanofthehills]

9. Except- he's been planning this since 2010

According to David Alexrod, Obama’s Senior Advisor, Trump offered Obama $100 million in 2010 to build it. Obama declined. Alextod writes about this in his memoir.

[RockRaven]

2. I want to see every single civil and criminal action possible against every person possible

connected with that demolition. What are those? I don't know. But if there are any violations of any law with any associated penalties, I want whoever has prosecutorial or enforcement powers to use them in every single instance and manner. Every last one.

[Maru Kitteh]

6. This, a thousand times. nt

[Jack Valentino]

3. Your skepticism is well warranted. In any case, 'he' won't build anything---- if it GETS built,

he will probably use kidnapped undocumented immigrant labor to build it,
just before he deports them all.... He won't have to PAY those people for their labor,
which is his long habit with contractors who are actually American citizens, ANYWAY....

[leftstreet]

4. And who starts a construction project in November?

Was it actually Trump who ordered the demo?

[drray23]

5. they would be nowhere near ready to break ground so to speak.

If they have no drawings, it would take months for an engineering firm to design a building like this. Then, you have to hire contractors, purchase the gigantic amount of materials required and start building. None of that can happen in weeks. its on a scale of years.

[leftstreet]

7. Yep

So there was really no point to the demolition, other than bullshit

[Captain Zero]

8. Maybe just put up a pole barn

For the easiest solution.
The DJT Memorial POLE BARN.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU THOUGH. I keep wondering if he tore that down because Putin told him to do it, cuz wouldn't they just love to be able to put a satellite over all that new bunker that was under it? Was that East wing shielding that bunker from signals intelligence?

[womanofthehills]

17. I read they expect it to be done in 2029

That’s a long time.

[Silent Type]

10. I'd be fine with putting a facade on the hole, planting some grass, and hoping Dems win in 2028.

[drray23]

11. definitely.

That would be the best case scenario.

[Ilsa]

12. Just like Hitler, I think he sees it as his great

memorial tribute building to himself, of course.

Hitler believed that as centuries passed, his huge domed assembly hall [Volkshalle] would acquire great holy significance and become a hallowed shrine as important to National Socialism as St. Peters in Rome is to Roman Catholicism. Such cultism was at the root of the entire plan. -- Architect Albert Speer in his Playboy magazine interview.

[The Madcap]

13. Given the likely level of asbestos released

The White House might be an environmental hazard in more ways than one.

[Emile]

14. The same thoughts crossed my mind too. Trump

is on his biggest con of his life, and enjoying every minute of it.

[rogue emissary]

15. I had the same thought, but you articulated it way better than I could.

[JoseBalow]

16. My theory: Melania didn't want to decorate for "fokin' christmas."