Comedy show presenters this week criticized the destruction of the East Wing of the White House and the corporate sponsors of a $300 million gilded ballroom project.
Seth Meyers
During Thursday's broadcast of his show, Seth Meyers voiced shock over the administration's initiative to construct a opulent ballroom. It's already troubling if his biggest priority was just creating a self-aggrandizing structure for himself, but it’s so much worse,” he remarked. “Because to do it, he’s tearing down a somewhat well-known and cherished landmark.”
That property is the entire East Wing of the presidential residence, which has stood for more than a century. He's demolishing the complete eastern wing to build his stupid ballroom. Just consider this,” Meyers exclaimed. “This is like a follow-up to Fixer Upper called a disastrous remake.”
Unsurprisingly, Trump also lied about this project.” Initially, he promised no destruction and claimed it “won’t interfere with the current building” because it would be “near it but not touching it”.
In essence, he vowed to treat it like his marriage,” Meyers joked.
The president claimed plans had changed following extensive research with top architectural experts in the world”.
“Oh yeah? Who was the architect you talked to, Godzilla?” Meyers joked.
Criticism emerged quickly, though unproductive. A historic conservation group sent a letter Trump stating that the new structure would overwhelm the current residence and requested him to halt work until a review could occur. “One, I couldn’t agree more with the preservation society,” said Meyers. “And two, best wishes with that appeal.”
“This couldn’t be any more of a bait and switch,” he continued. “He won the election by claiming he was going to make life more affordable for everyday citizens, and currently he's destroying the White House to construct for himself a lavish personal venue.”
Stephen Colbert
By today the East Wing looked like a rotisserie chicken damaged by a pet,” said Stephen Colbert on the Late Show. “It's disturbing to witness, I understand that, and you know the administration knows that,” since on Thursday, security personnel closed access to the Ellipse park where reporters were photographing the destruction process.
“Well that makes sense – if it's not recorded, they can just assert the East Wing hanged itself in prison,” Colbert quipped.
The host pointed out that it was significant heritage being smashed to rubble”, as that section was constructed over a century ago and had been the base for presidential spouses since the 1970s. “In fact, Melania was in the East Wing, and I certainly hope they evacuated her because she’s frequently confused with a decorative lighting fixture,” Colbert joked over a photo of one of the first lady’s more non-traditional outfits.
Trump has funded the expensive project with funding from “groveling corporations” including Amazon, Apple, Comcast, Google, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Meta Platforms and Hard Rock International. “And the president requires all the funds he can get,” said Colbert, as the projected expense has already risen from an initial $250m to more than $300 million, for a 90,000 sq-ft construction, exceeding the size of the existing White House itself. “It's comparable to a sports pitch,” Colbert observed. “So keep in mind, companies, as you bribe the president: no hands.”
Comedy Central's Program
Meanwhile, on the Daily Show, Michael Kosta detailed the rapid progression of the project from idea to action. “When he started, he promised that it would be separate from the current building and he wouldn’t touch the eastern section. That this construction would strictly be over the pants,” he recapped.
“Recently, there was a minor change to the plan when Trump ripped open the side of the East Wing like it had a Labubu inside.”
Within days, the whole eastern part was gone. “This is all happening so fast,” he commented. “He has spent 15 years to give us a medical reform, but in less than a week he’s demolished half the White House. Donny T, tell me this is going to end up looking good …”
Not quite – according to a miniature display presented in the Oval Office, the new hall will overshadow the current White House. “It resembles one of those crabs with the big arms, right?” Kosta laughed. “I mean, I don’t know a lot about architecture. But I am familiar about exaggerated displays.”
