Trump Turns to White House Columns as White House Construction Push Expands
President Donald Trump’s expanding White House renovation push is drawing fresh attention after reports that a Trump-appointed federal arts official proposed replacing the historic Ionic columns on the White House North Portico with more ornate Corinthian columns — a classical style long associated with grandeur and used in several Trump properties.
The idea has fueled debate among architects and preservationists because the North Portico is one of the most recognizable parts of the executive mansion. Critics argue that changing the columns would alter the historic character of the White House and blur the line between preservation and personal redesign.
The column controversy comes as construction activity has already surrounded parts of the White House grounds. Recent projects include work on a new granite South Lawn helipad for Marine One, funded by Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin, and broader Trump-backed changes to the White House complex.
The White House has said there are no current official plans to replace the North Portico columns, but the proposal has become part of a larger debate over Trump’s effort to leave a visible architectural mark on Washington.