Symbolic of President Donald Trump’s outrageous use of power is that he has — all on his own — ordered the destruction, now completed, of the East Wing of the White House, the American people’s house, of which he is just a tenant (“Satellite images show before and after of demolition of White House East Wing,” Oct. 23). This to build a huge grand ballroom that no doubt will welcome his multimillionaire friends and dignitaries from around the world.
It took regular citizens, the Voorhees family of Virginia, to file an emergency motion to stop the destruction, citing violations of federal preservation laws and lack of planning approvals, for Trump’s “beautiful ballroom” (the noisy sounds of the destruction crew being “music” to his ears). The defendants in the case are Trump in his official capacity and Jessica Brown, director of the National Park Service. Would that the Voorhees motion could halt the atrocity at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
No matter that Trump says the cost will come from donations. Expense is not the issue. This outsize ballroom addition will eliminate the first lady’s office, take up more space than the White House itself and totally wreck its classical symmetry.
Taking the public by storm, this audacious presidential alteration of an iconic American structure ranks near the top of Trump’s imperious, reckless actions. This one, on the president’s whim — unlikely to be vetoed by either the inert Congress or the right-wing Supreme Court — puts me in mind of some pharaoh of ancient Egypt wanting his pyramid to be the biggest, most impressive of any. It also recalls for me George Hammerbacher’s insightful letter to The Baltimore Sun of Oct. 3, the title of which said it all: “Trump wants a government of one.” Himself.
— Bruce Knauff, Towson
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