Trump orders White House helipad renovation after calling $5M project 'slanted'
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump is not happy with the progress made on the $5 million worth of White House renovation work and has already ordered the redoing of the project, which was estimated to be completed by September.
As per the report, Trump thinks that the White House helipad built for $5 million on the South Lawn is slanted and must be reworked.
Trump orders reconstruction of White House helipad
President Donald Trump has called for a do-over on one of the president’s helipads, which is one among his several white house renovation projects, allegedly forcing contractors to tear up weeks’ worth of work.
While the project was planned to be completed by September, when Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit, contractors have now undone their efforts and are now planning to make changes to the South Lawn itself, The Washington Post reported.
Lockheed Martin, which owns the helicopter manufacturer, is funding the helipad project and has spent $5 million on the renovation work. Now the fresh work would demand additional spending.
The president has been carrying out a renovation spree around the White House, starting with the demolition of the East Wing to make way for a ballroom and the removal of the Rose Garden for a new patio.
The administration also used a tarp showing an image of the North Portico to cover the renovation work being done on the columns in that section of the White House.
A spokesman told the outlet the helipad work was “desperately needed.”
“For years, the White House has desperately needed a proper Helipad on White House grounds that will allow the President to land safely and also protect the beautiful South Lawn grass from the fierce exhaust fumes of the incredible Marine One,” spokesman Davis Ingle told WaPo in a statement. “Thanks to President Trump, the White House has never looked better, and it will only continue to get better under his leadership.”
Security upgrade is underway as president builds $600 million ballroom
President Donald Trump is currently building a $600 million worth White House ballroom, while crews are also working on security upgrades to the White House’s front door.
Trump had earlier asked workers to work round the clock to build the helipad as he wanted it to be ready before the Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit to Washington in September.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool repair work remained one of the prominent renovation works among several White House projects. The Reflecting Pool has, time and again, ignited controversy.
Persistent algae and a peeling liner, which Trump has repeatedly blamed on alleged vandals, have cost an additional amount to the project.
