Trump says White House was a ‘dump’ before his renovations, and points fingers at his predecessors: ‘Past Presidents did not take care of it’

President Trump stated on Sunday that the White House was a “dump” before he authorized a series of renovations to the executive mansion and its grounds. The President took to Truth Social to share his perspective on the condition of the property, claiming that the building was in very bad shape both inside and out. He specifically noted that “Past Presidents did not take care of it.”

Trump mentioned that he enjoys renovating the space during his limited spare time, and he praised the Department of Interior and the various contractors for their work on the project. To support his claims, the President shared photos showing cracks and imperfections in the North Portico columns. In his post, he wrote, “The exterior ‘skin’ of the Building was practically falling off!”

He also added, “It is now in better shape than when built in 1792. Such an Honor to have the privilege of saving this Great Structure! More time without renovation would have destroyed our beloved White House!”

The progress on these renovations has accelerated recently

Last month, the Supreme Court sided with the President, halting a lower court ruling that would have required congressional approval for the work. This legal victory cleared the way for significant construction efforts. Currently, there are 250 workers on site operating on a schedule of 20 hours a day, seven days a week. They are building a 90,000-square-foot ballroom that is slated to include an underground military complex and a drone-launching pad.

This massive project follows the demolition of the East Wing, which previously housed several offices, including the office of the first lady. This move drew criticism from former White House officials and presidential relatives, although some observers noted that other presidents have carried out their own renovation projects in the past.

Regarding the North Portico, a White House official previously described the work there as “standard restoration work.” Crews have been busy removing scaffolding and draping in anticipation of the visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24.

Safety has been a concern during these extensive operations. Earlier this month, a construction worker was injured in an incident at the North Portico. The individual had to be placed on a stretcher and transported away by ambulance.

Beyond the ballroom and the portico, the President has also overseen the construction of a new helipad. He described the structure as “MAGNIFICENT” and highlighted the fact that former President Eisenhower, who was the first president to fly in a helicopter, did not have a dedicated helipad during his time in office.

The President was reportedly unhappy with the initial design in August and pushed for changes. The final 100-foot-wide helipad now features a large presidential seal crafted from 4-inch-thick granite sourced from a California quarry.

Another notable change to the grounds was the decision to pave over the Rose Garden, which reopened last year. This change has proven to be quite controversial. The President has frequently used the new space to host business and tech leaders, as well as Republican members of Congress. This year, the area was further updated with the addition of several statues of the Founding Fathers on the patio.