Fox host Laura Ingraham questions Trump’s plan to paint historic Eisenhower building white

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump is eyeing another controversial addition to his long list of renovation projects in Washington - this time, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB). During an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Wednesday night, Trump unveiled a mock-up of his latest vision: painting the 137-year-old structure a stark, gleaming white.

“Look at that, how beautiful that is,” Trump said proudly as he showed Ingraham the design. But the Fox News host didn’t appear convinced.

Laura Ingraham questions Trump’s ‘big white blob’ plan

Ingraham, who once worked in the Eisenhower building during the Reagan administration, didn’t mince words as she reacted to Trump’s proposal.

“Are you not worried it’s like... a big white blob?” she asked, grimacing slightly at the artist’s rendering.

Trump brushed off the criticism, insisting that his idea was about highlighting architectural beauty, not erasing history.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the swearing-in ceremony of US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in the Oval Office of the White House on November 10, 2025 in Washington, DC (Getty Images)

“No, what it does is it brings out the detail,” he replied. “They used greystone - grey is for funerals. Look at it now, how beautiful that is.”

Trump further argued that when the EEOB was built in 1888, many people thought it was “really ugly,” but he claimed he saw “potential” in the French Second Empire-style structure.

Trump says renovation plans are ‘not final yet’

When Ingraham asked when the makeover might begin, Trump said he was still getting bids and had not yet made a final decision.

“I don’t even know if I’m going to do it yet. I’m getting costs, I’m getting bids right now from painters, and we’ll see,” Trump said. “It would be a great addition to Washington.”

The EEOB, formerly known as the State, War, and Navy Department Building, has stood next to the White House for well over a century and has been home to countless historic offices and events. It was once cited as an architectural inspiration for the Addams Family mansion, thanks to its ornate French design.

Trump’s renovation streak continues to spark backlash

If approved, the Eisenhower project would become part of Trump’s broader “White House 2.0” renovation streak, a series of ambitious and controversial remodels during his second term.

Those include the planned demolition of the East Wing to make way for a $350 million ballroom, and the transformation of the Lincoln Bathroom into a marble-lined showpiece.

Trump also revealed to Ingraham that he has added a “Presidential Walk of Fame” along the White House colonnade, featuring portraits of every president, except Joe Biden, who is instead represented by a photograph of his autopen.

When asked who conceived the project, Trump replied with characteristic flair, “Everything is my idea, sadly.”

The president has faced growing criticism for his aesthetic overhauls, with some historians and preservationists arguing that his projects are blurring the line between governance and vanity. But Trump brushed off the criticism, insisting his efforts are about restoring beauty and strength to the nation’s capital.