Trump's Fascination with White House Columns Sparks Controversy
Trump, 79, Transfixed by White House Pillar for Six Minutes
The Daily Beast
Image: The Daily Beast
During a recent visit to the White House, President Donald Trump spent six minutes inspecting the columns at the entrance after delivering a Memorial Day speech. His interest may relate to proposed changes to replace the Ionic columns with more ornate Corinthian ones, a move that has drawn mixed reactions.
- 01President Trump spent six minutes examining the White House columns after a speech at Arlington National Cemetery.
- 02There are proposals within Trump’s circle to replace the existing Ionic columns with Corinthian columns, which he prefers.
- 03Rodney Mims Cook Jr., a Trump appointee, advocates for the change, citing the Corinthian style as the most decorative and appropriate for the White House.
- 04Critics, including Biden appointee Bruce Redman Becker, argue that replacing the columns is inappropriate and contradicts historic preservation standards.
- 05Trump has previously made significant alterations to the White House, including a $400 million ballroom project and renovations to the Oval Office.
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President Donald Trump, after delivering a Memorial Day speech, was seen captivated by the White House’s entrance columns, spending six minutes inspecting them. This unusual attention comes amid discussions in Trump’s circle about potentially replacing the existing Ionic columns with Corinthian columns, a style he favors for its opulence. Rodney Mims Cook Jr., who chairs the Commission of Fine Arts, has proposed this change, arguing that the Corinthian style is the highest order of classical columns and should be featured prominently on the White House. However, this idea has faced criticism from other members of the commission, such as Bruce Redman Becker, who deem it inappropriate and contrary to historic preservation standards. Trump's interest in the columns reflects his broader pattern of making extravagant changes to the White House, which includes the ongoing $400 million renovation of the ballroom and extensive alterations to the grounds.
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Proposed changes to the White House columns could alter the historical aesthetic and significance of the building, affecting public perception and tourism.
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