President Donald Trump has previously referred to the White House as a "dump," stating that it was in poor condition when he took office and that previous administrations neglected its upkeep. He has since undertaken extensive renovations, claiming the building is now in better shape than when it was originally constructed in 1792. Rather than focusing on major national issues like the upcoming midterms, ending the Iran conflict, or addressing inflation, Trump has prioritized what he calls a "beautification" project at the White House. Recently, he spent time in Ireland attending the Irish Open at his golf club in County Clare before returning his attention to the renovations in Washington, D.C. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump detailed the poor state of the White House, both inside and out, and criticized past presidents for not maintaining it properly. He praised the Department of the Interior and contractors for their work, sharing "before and after" photos to highlight the improvements. He described the exterior of the building as being in such disrepair that it was "practically falling off." Trump also shared new conceptual designs of a grand ballroom he plans to build inside the White House, calling it "massively expensive" but funded entirely from his own resources, not taxpayer money. The White House renovation project, estimated at $600 million, has drawn criticism, particularly as public opinion suggests voters would prefer Trump to focus on economic issues like inflation and rising gas prices. Trump has also proposed building a large statue of George Washington outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, adding to the list of changes he has made to the White House and its surroundings. These include the demolition of the East Wing to make space for the ballroom, the construction of a new helipad on the South Lawn, and the transformation of the Rose Garden into a Florida-style patio. According to a recent book by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, titled Regime Change, Trump has devoted approximately 70% of his attention to aesthetic improvements at the White House, leaving only 30% for other pressing national issues. The total cost of all of Trump's projects at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has been estimated at around $927 million, a significant investment that has sparked debate over its necessity and appropriateness.