[Global Network Reporter Li Ziyu] As the U.S. federal government continues to "shut down", U.S. President Trump announced the groundbreaking of the $250 million White House luxury banquet hall, causing many questions. According to the latest report of the US "Capitol Hill", the White House refuted on the 21st local time that this was "man-made anger" in response to the criticism of the demolition and renovation of some buildings in the east wing of the White House. However, this response continues to cause controversy.
In a detailed press release on Monday, the White House accused the media of “overreacting” to the planned renovation of the hall, saying the project was “a daring and necessary expansion in line with the long history of [the White House’s] transformation and renovation.”
Regarding the White House's latest response, controversy continues on social platform X.
"Human anger is natural. (Because) White House property is often changed at the president's will."↓
"Jokes were born."↓
The New York Post that the White House had already proposed the idea of a new "Big Party Hall" in July this year. At present, the White House's most spacious venue is located in the main building and can accommodate up to 200 people, while Trump's new party room was originally designed to accommodate 650 people. Recently, he also proposed an "expansion" to 999 people, calling it a preparation for the future presidential inauguration ceremony. The White House disclosed the effect chart showed that the newly established hall will be laid with black-and-white marble floor, shaped ceiling hanging crystal lights, and columns wrapped in gold.
However, this reconstruction project may involve conflicts of interest, which has caused many questions. On the 15th of this month, Trump hosted a banquet at the White House to entertain dozens of wealthy American businessmen and business executives, and the construction of the banquet hall was one of the themes of this gathering. Richard Painter, the chief ethics lawyer of the White House during the administration of former US President George W. Bush, criticized this as a "pay-for-entry" money game. Axios News Network of the United States quoted a number of legal experts as saying that although "fund-raising reconstruction" may not touch the legal red line, this move is "disgraceful" and can easily affect people's trust in the government. The Association of Architectural Historians, an international non-profit organization, also expressed "high concern" about this move of the White House, saying that this reconstruction is the first time that the White House has made a major change to the facade of the building in 83 years, and the design scheme should be strictly formulated and the approval procedures should be followed.
It is worth noting that the White House's "groundbreaking" coincided with the shutdown of the US government. The Democratic National Committee said that while the American people are worried about basic livelihood and medical problems, the White House is busy building projects, which is tantamount to "blatant betrayal" to the people.