This is horrific to think about. But then it was horrific to think about a “portion” of the East Wing being bulldozed and then a few days later the New York Times revealed, guess what, the entire wing is going. And there it went. And the fact of the matter is, that the only reason Americans got photos of the bulldozing going on was because Treasury Department employees were leaking them — because all the excavation was visible from their workplace windows. Incredible, right? So if Michael Wolff thinks that the West Wing could be next, who are we to say him nay? Daily Beast:
The 123-year-old West Wing occupies an iconic place in the nation’s history and pop culture. Its Oval Office, the president’s executive workspace, is one of the world’s most recognizable rooms.
But for Trump, “a figure of nothing so much as pure grandiosity,” Wolff said, “it must feel dispiriting to show up there every day—even the Oval Office is small.”
The author noted, “The West Wing, for people who have never been there, is actually kind of startling because it is a warren of small offices. It always reminds me of a kind of a college admission center.”
Co-host Joanna Coles pointed out that the White House is “deliberately modest.” The republic’s Founders believed the president’s residence should be modest and plain—not at all like the gilded palaces of European kings.
According to Wolff, that means “[the West Wing has] nothing to suggest, as Trump obviously wants it to be suggested, that he is the grandest, most powerful, historical being of all time.”
Wolff recalled that the set of Aaron Sorkin’s TV drama The West Wing felt “so much grander than the actual West Wing itself,” with Coles adding that Trump, a former reality TV star, was likely disappointed by how “flat” the building is in real life versus on TV shows.
Plus, I would like to add this: Trump used to refer to the White House as “that dump.” He didn’t like the White House. That was in 2017. He didn’t like it then and he hasn’t grown to like it. The fact that he ripped down a piece of it last week tells you everything you need to know.
Here’s a video of some length, so you may want to listen to it in sections. But I think it’s entirely plausible that Trump may want to tear down the entire edifice that we know as the White House and make it over in his own image. Can he do that? Who knows? Two weeks ago I would have said there’s no way on God’s green earth he could bulldoze the East Wing.
And yes, it all begs the question, “Why would Trump do this if he’s leaving in 2028?” There we go with that again. On the other hand, maybe the answer is simple: Trump knows he’s not going to be here that much longer, so he wants to destroy as much as he possibly can.
He wants is own Kremlin.
your last paragraph may also explain his sudden interest in nuclear weapons. if he can’t live forever no one and nothing should be allowed to exist beyond him. as people keep pointing out, his doctors have probably told him, in no uncertain terms, to either make major lifestyle changes or put his affairs in order (he won’t have any real interest in doing the first and won’t see the point in doing the second, after all any mess he leaves behind won’t be a problem for him). he clearly has major problems. dix months ago i had severe fluid retention in my ankles and had an mri. a week later o had a triple bypass, aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair. since i had the sense (surprisingly) to shell out for the good insurance they also installed a nifty combination pacemaker/defibrillator. although i was a long time smoker i’m willing to bet i was in significantly better condition than lardass. i have a very physical job and was back at it after four months. if trump has that kind of surgery, which he probably needs, i’m guessing it would take him a lot longer to recuperate. i’m also guessing he’d be too scared to do it in the first place. and as i said above, he’ll find some way to screw us on the way out.