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People gathered on the 15th Street side of the White House to snap pictures and get a glimpse of the East Wing demolition.
WASHINGTON — It’s the talk of the District – and around the world. President Donald Trump announced earlier this week that the East Wing of the White House will be renovated into a grand ballroom.
The company handling demolition is called ACECO LLC, and it’s based in Silver Spring, and it’s subcontracted by Clark Construction out of McLean. ACECO’s website is currently under construction, while Clark Construction’s page shows its track record on major projects like the National Museum of African American History and the new Capital One Arena.
But steps away from where the East Wing once stood, people from all over the world are trying to get a glimpse of what’s left.
“I think it’s good,” said Steve Thompson, who is visiting from Nevada. “I just feel like he’s putting his own little touch on the White House. I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”
Meanwhile, Sandy Lessig, who is in town from Houston, didn’t feel the same way.
“I’m just appalled,” she explained. “This belongs to the people of the United States. It belongs to us as citizens, it’s not Trump’s home to be like I think, ‘I’ll just renovate it and tear it all down.”
Thompson says Trump’s renovation isn’t unprecedented.
“Barack Obama. He made the tennis courts into basketball courts, and I believe it was Kennedy who put in the indoor pool. So it’s been done before and Donald Trump isn’t even using our tax dollars to get it done,” he explained.
But Lessig thinks there’s a better use of time and money.
“Why are we spending the money on this instead of feeding children? There are so many other things that can be done,” she said.
WUSA9 caught up with Julie Holman and Janice Sage, who are both visiting from England. They told us Trump’s actions have been making headlines there as well.
“He feels, as a president, he’s empowered to do what he likes; it wouldn’t happen in our country,” said Holman.
They just took a tour of the People’s House exhibit and hope the new East Wing additions are for the people, too.
“Let’s hope he opens up the ballroom for all visitors to come and do some line dancing. For the people’s house that the people own, so they get some enjoyment from it too,” Sage said.
According to the White House, the new East Wing ballroom will span 90,000 square feet and hold up to 1,000 people.
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