Trump says White House was a ‘dump’ before renovations

President Trump on Sunday said the White House was a “dump” before he signed off on a series of renovations to the executive mansion and its grounds.

“The White House was in very bad condition, both inside and out. Frankly, it was a ‘dump!'” Trump wrote on Truth Social . “Past Presidents did not take care of it. I love renovating it during my spare time, which is not much. The Department of Interior, and various contractors, are doing a fantastic job.”

Trump then referred to photos included in the post depicting cracks and imperfections in the North Portico’s columns, which were covered by scaffolding as part of the renovation.

“The exterior ‘skin’ of the Building was practically falling off!” Trump continued. “It is now in better shape than when built in 1792. Such an Honor to have the privilege of saving this Great Structure! More time without renovation would have destroyed our beloved White House!”

The renovations have seen significant progress in the weeks since the Supreme Court sided with Trump last month and halted a lower court’s ruling that he needed congressional approval to undertake the renovations, which the National Trust for Historic Preservation argued in its lawsuit.

The president has since enlisted 250 workers to construct the 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom, set to be equipped with a drone-launching pad and underground military complex , on a schedule of 20 hours a day, seven days a week.

Construction began last year after crews demolished the East Wing, home to several offices, including that of the first lady. Former White House officials and presidential relatives denounced the demolition and replacement with a ballroom, though some pointed to previous renovation projects carried out by past presidents.

The work on the North Portico columns was “standard restoration work,” a White House official previously told NewsNation, The Hill’s broadcast partner. Workers have been removing scaffolding and draping around the portico in preparation for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to the White House on Sept. 24.

One construction worker was injured after an incident at the North Portico earlier this month. The worker was placed on a stretcher and taken away by ambulance. The Hill has reached out to the White House for an update on the worker.

Construction of the White House’s helipad was completed around the same time; Trump touted it as “MAGNIFICENT” and pointed out the lack of a helipad during former President Eisenhower’s administration. Eisenhower was the first president to fly aboard a helicopter.

Trump was reportedly displeased with the helipad in August and urged crews to make changes to it. The 100-foot-wide helipad features a massive presidential seal made from 4-inch-thick granite from a quarry in California.

Trump’s decision to pave over the Rose Garden was among his most controversial changes to the White House grounds after reopening last year.

The president has utilized the space to host tech and business leaders , Republican members of Congress and others at the executive residence. This year, several gifted statues of the Founding Fathers were added to the patio space.