Trump claims White House columns were ‘falling down’ when he returned for second term

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump offered a striking assessment of the White House’s condition after returning to office, claiming parts of the historic residence were deteriorating so badly that “columns were falling down” when he moved back in earlier this year.

The president made the comments while defending his broader modernization and renovation efforts at the White House, including controversial plans tied to the new ballroom project and East Wing security upgrades.

Trump claims White House was in poor condition when he returned

Speaking about the condition of the executive residence, Trump used unusually blunt language to describe what he encountered upon returning to the White House for his second term.

Trump also complained that the White House was a “sh*t house” when he moved back in for his second term, claiming that the columns were “falling down” and plaster was “falling off.”

Monday, Trump hosted an event honoring law enforcement officials at the White House and delivered a speech that covered his typical wide range of topics. During his remarks, he discussed his opinion of the physical condition of the building.

“This place was not properly taken care of,” said Trump.

He said that First Lady Melania Trump had told him to “act presidential” and “don’t use foul language,” but then he went ahead and said, "Normally I would have said it was a sh*t house, but I don’t wanna say that.”

Trump framed the issue as part of a broader push to modernize and secure the presidential residence while preserving it for future administrations.

Trump says White House renovations restored building

Trump has repeatedly emphasized that the White House requires continual maintenance due to its age and historical significance.

Built more than two centuries ago, the executive mansion undergoes regular repairs and updates across administrations.

“The columns were falling down. The plaster was falling off,” he claimed, adding the paint job was in disrepair as well, but “this place is tippy-top now.”

Trump touted “all the brand-new beautiful new stone; I paid for it myself,” saying that “we’re bringing the White House back to shape.”

“I spent a lot of time on bringing this house back, because this house was in very bad shape,” he said, and the White House should be “incredible” and “pristine.”

Supporters of Trump’s renovation plans argue the White House should reflect the stature and operational demands of the modern presidency, especially during a period of heightened security threats and expanding logistical needs for presidential events.

“And the big thing is, we’re building a ballroom in the back, which will be, I think, the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world,” he continued.

“You’ll never see anything like it. And it will also be very safe. It’s going to be a very safe ballroom. It’s got glass this thick; it’s amazing. The glass is this thick, like six inches thick, and you look through it, and you can see as perfectly as though it weren’t there.”

The president’s latest comments appeared designed to reinforce that argument by portraying the White House not as a lavish vanity project but as a property badly in need of repair and modernization.