Trump’s Demolition of the White House East Wing Is Symbolic of His Autocracy

The Trump Administration ordered the complete demolition of the East Wing of the White House, including the colonnaded breezeway connecting the addition to the Executive Mansion. It also uprooted historic trees and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, to make room for a ballroom, after recently having cemented over the Rose Garden for use as a patio. The East Wing was a 1942 Neo-Classical addition, matching the Federal Style of the White House. It has served various purposes over the years, from a swimming pool for then-President Franklin Roosevelt, who was afflicted with paralysis, to offices and an entrance for visitors and public tours. The demolition was conducted without proper authorization and review by the required agencies for the proposed plans. It appears also that none of the historic architectural details were salvaged, as is typical for the demolition of a historic property, especially one designated as historic like the East Wing, and especially when the building was in excellent condition and its features thus were salvageable. Such architectural details, which are highly sought, like doors, windows, moldings, columns, flooring, etc., which were constructed in materials not usually used in modern construction, could either have been incorporated into the proposed structure, as is typical when replacing a historic property, or other federal buildings, or sold. Therefore, the demolition is not only disrespectful of American history and tradition, but fiscally wasteful. Many observers across the political spectrum viewed the demolition of the East Wing as yet another symbol of Donald Trump's disrespect for America, like his gilding of the Oval Office I had posted about, but because of the violation of the standard process, as also exemplary of his autocracy. Thus, Trump’s demolition of the East Wing and Oval Office gilding, like the proposed Trump coin and arch I also posted about, are visible signs of the trend away from the Republican restraint of the Chief Executive and deference to Congress, the Constitution and the law, and toward the imperialism and authoritarianism of the Caesars. Trump is symbolically demolishing the American experiment and supplanting it with unchecked autocratic excess. It is time for Legislative and Judicial Branches to do more to exercise their powers as co-equal Branches of Government to restrain Trump and his Administration in defense of the constitutional principle of the Separation of Powers, and the rule of law.