New Aerial Photos Show Scale of White House Defiling
Aerial photographs reveal the massive scale of changes sweeping across the White House grounds.
Daniel Heuer/REUTERS
New aerial photographs show just how dramatically Donald Trump, 80, has altered the White House grounds as he moves ahead with his controversial makeover.
The images, captured Saturday, reveal a sprawling construction zone where the East Wing once stood. Cranes, scaffolding, heavy machinery, and partially completed structures now occupy a large section of the White House complex.
Construction continues on the White House South Lawn in Washington, D.C.
Daniel Heuer/REUTERS
The photos underscore just how much the White House has changed since Trump returned to office. Critics have accused Trump of treating the White House like one of his private properties as opposed to a national landmark.
The East Wing project follows a series of other changes that have sparked backlash, including paving over much of the Rose Garden with a patio and filling parts of the White House with gold-colored decorations reminiscent of Trump’s resorts.
What once was the iconic Rose Garden has become a dining area.
Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS
The president has shown little interest in slowing down.
Just this week, the White House confirmed that the North Portico entrance is undergoing security-focused renovations after being covered in scaffolding and giant printed tarps designed to mimic the building’s facade.
A tarp covers scaffolding on the North Portico of the White House, Friday, July 10, 2026, in Washington.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
Trump has also announced plans for a new helipad on the South Lawn and has backed proposals for additional fencing around the White House complex, changes that would make the People’s House even less accessible to the public.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Sign in or create an account
Login dialog
Loading comments…