In a tale reminiscent of George Washington and the legendary cherry tree, recent developments at the White House have sparked significant controversy. Satellite images reveal that President Donald Trump’s ambitious project to construct a $300 million grand ballroom has resulted in the removal of at least six trees from the White House grounds. Among these are two historic magnolia trees that were dedicated to Presidents Warren G. Harding and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
On Thursday, satellite images provided a comprehensive view of the demolition activities surrounding the White House’s East Wing. This construction has been conducted without the necessary consultations with the government commission tasked by federal law to ensure the preservation of significant government buildings in Washington, D.C. Former officials from this commission expressed their concerns in interviews with ABC News.
According to the satellite imagery, visible construction work for the new ballroom commenced over three weeks ago. An image captured on September 26 indicates that preparations were underway, including the removal of multiple trees situated in President's Park. The Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, initially established as the Colonial Garden by first lady Edith Roosevelt in 1903, has also been impacted, with evidence of leveling noted in the recent images.
Earlier this year, Trump made headlines by paving over the historic Rose Garden, which was designed by the same architect as the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. In a statement made during the summer, the White House announced that construction on the ballroom would commence in September and be completed well before the end of Trump's term.
The satellite images, taken by Planet Labs, reveal that at least six trees surrounding the East Wing have been removed. Notably, the two historic magnolia trees, one planted in 1922 and the other in 1942, have disappeared during the construction process. The magnolia commemorating Harding was initially planted by first lady Florence Harding and later re-designated as a commemorative tree in the 1950s. Similarly, the Roosevelt magnolia was marked as a commemorative tree in the mid-1950s, highlighting the historical significance of these plants.
Despite the significant changes, the White House has not provided any comments regarding the removal of these historic trees. Trump had previously assured that the ballroom project would respect the existing East Wing structure, stating, "It'll be near it, but not touching it." He emphasized his admiration for the current building.
A White House official noted that Trump intends to submit plans for the ballroom to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) for approval but has yet to do so. Former NCPC members pointed out that typically, plans are submitted and approved before any demolition work begins. Trump, while discussing the ballroom project, expressed astonishment at the absence of a formal approval process, noting his past experiences with construction in New York.
Trump recounted the conversation he had regarding the approval process, saying, "I said, 'How long will it take me?' They responded, 'Sir, you can start tonight, you have no approvals.' I said, 'You gotta be kidding.' They said, 'Sir, this is the White House, you're the President of the United States, you can do anything you want.'" This statement underscores the unique challenges and considerations faced when undertaking projects at such a historically significant location.
