Comedy show presenters this week criticized the demolition of the East Wing of the White House and the corporate sponsors of a $300 million gilded ballroom construction.
Seth Meyers
On a recent episode of 'Late Night', Seth Meyers expressed disbelief over the president's plan to build a opulent ballroom. It's already troubling if Trump's biggest priority was just creating a gilded vanity project for himself, but it’s even more concerning,” he stated. “Because to accomplish it, he’s demolishing a historically significant and beloved piece of property.”
The structure in question is the whole eastern section of the presidential residence, which has stood for more than a century. He's demolishing the entire East Wing to build his unnecessary ballroom. Just consider this,” Meyers exclaimed. “This is like a sequel to a home renovation show called Fucked Upper.”
“And of course, the president misled about this project.” Initially, he promised no demolition and said it “won’t interfere with the current building” because it would be “near it but not touching it”.
In essence, he vowed to handle it similarly to his personal relationships,” Meyers quipped.
Trump said plans had changed following extensive research with top architectural experts in the world”.
“Oh yeah? Who was the designer you talked to, a fictional monster?” Meyers retorted.
Criticism emerged quickly, if ineffective. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a letter the president saying that the addition would overwhelm the current residence and requested him to pause construction until a review could occur. Firstly, I fully support with the National Trust for Historic Preservation,” Meyers commented. “And two, best wishes with that appeal.”
“This couldn’t be any more of a bait and switch,” he added. “He won the election by promising he was going to improve living costs for hardworking Americans, and currently he's destroying the White House to construct for himself a gilded vanity project.”
Stephen Colbert
By today the East Wing looked like a cooked poultry your dog got into,” remarked the host on his program. “It's disturbing to witness, I understand that, and the government is aware,” since on that day, the Secret Service closed access to a public space where journalists had been capturing the destruction process.
That seems logical – if it's not recorded, they can just claim the eastern wing hanged itself in prison,” Colbert joked.
The host pointed out that it was “a lot of history being torn down”, as the East Wing was built in 1902 and had been the headquarters for first ladies since the Carter administration. “Actually, the former first lady was in the eastern part, and I certainly hope they got her out because she’s often mistaken for a beautiful floor lamp,” Colbert joked over a photo of one of the first lady’s more non-traditional outfits.
The president financed the “ball-doggle” with funding from “groveling corporations” including Amazon, Apple, Comcast, Google, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Meta Platforms and Hard Rock International. “And Trump needs all the cash he can get,” said Colbert, as the estimated cost has already increased from $250 million to over $300m, for a 90,000 sq-ft construction, larger than the existing White House itself. “It's comparable to a professional soccer field,” Colbert observed. “So keep in mind, corporations, as you influence the administration: no hands.”
The Daily Show
Meanwhile, on the comedy program, Michael Kosta tracked the swift evolution of the initiative from proposal to execution. “When he started, he promised that it would be separate from the current building and he wouldn’t touch the eastern section. That this construction would remain non-intrusive,” he summarized.
“Then this week, there was a minor change to the plan when Trump ripped open the eastern facade like it had a Labubu inside.”
By Thursday, the whole eastern part was gone. “Events are unfolding rapidly,” he commented. “He has spent 15 years to deliver a healthcare plan, but in 3.5 days he’s demolished half the White House. Donny T, tell me this is going to end up looking good …”
Not quite – according to a miniature display shown to officials, the new hall will dwarf the current White House. “It looks like one of those crabs with the big arms, right?” Kosta chuckled. “In other words, I'm no design expert. But I do know a thing or two about overcompensating for a small penis.”
