Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(71,911 posts)
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 02:41 PM Thursday

White House Hangs Tarps Over North Portico Amid Trump's Construction Blitz

Source: Forbes

BREAKING BUSINESS
White House Hangs Tarps Over North Portico Amid Trump’s Construction Blitz

By Conor Murray, Forbes Staff. Murray is a Forbes news reporter covering entertainment trends.
Jul 09, 2026, 02:06pm EDT

TOPLINE
The White House on Thursday hung large tarps covering the North Portico, printed with images of the columns that are under repair, as the Trump administration ramps up construction and repairs projects across Washington, D.C.


Construction workers hung tarps outside the White House's North Portico on Thursday. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
GETTY IMAGES

KEY FACTS
* Tarps went up on the White House’s North Portico in the late morning on Thursday, covering scaffolding that has stood for days.
* A White House official told CNN the North Portico is “undergoing standard restoration work” to repair stones in the columns, one of several concurrent construction projects taking place at the White House and across Washington.
* Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum told podcast host Katie Miller earlier this week the North Portico columns are undergoing repairs, saying the construction should be finished “very quickly.”
* “President Trump comes out to greet a world leader, sees door dings in the pillars, and he says, ‘Look at all this stuff that needs to be repaired,’” Burgum told Miller.
* Earlier this week, Trump told reporters construction workers have “taken about 150 years of paint off of the columns and re-did them,” saying they were “in very bad shape” and “treated very badly by a lot of presidents."


The tarps are covering scaffolding outside the North Portico. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
COPYRIGHT 2026 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


Workers put up a tarp to cover the scaffolding on the North Portico of the White House, Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
COPYRIGHT 2026 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2026/07/09/white-house-hangs-tarps-over-north-portico-amid-trumps-construction-blitz/



What could go wrong?

Hat tip, Joe.My.God.

https://www.joemygod.com/2026/07/printed-tarp-masks-makeover-of-white-house-columns/
56 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
White House Hangs Tarps Over North Portico Amid Trump's Construction Blitz (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Thursday OP
"construction and repairs projects" tanyev Thursday #1
He's replacing those Ionic columns with Corinthian ones Ritabert Thursday #2
Gut Medicaid, shut down rural hospitals, run 5M off of the ACA with millions more Bengus81 Thursday #20
His 7th bankruptcy. Ritabert Thursday #25
They're not his fucking columns. sop Thursday #29
He has even less status than a renter -- we let him live there for free... William Seger Thursday #38
Yep. demmiblue Friday #53
Somebody feeling a little...exposed? Buddyzbuddy Thursday #3
"Door dings?" Alice B. Thursday #4
Really big doors Progressive dog Thursday #13
My "freeze and seize his assets" fantasy now includes his having to pay to put all this damage to rights... better yet, Alice B. Thursday #22
not only your fantasy rampartd Thursday #37
How is he allowed to do this KT2000 Thursday #5
I would think he's allowed to do normal maintenance, Bayard Thursday #6
We need laws forbidding White House construction and destruction by any president. Lonestarblue Thursday #15
Allowed by ..... who? Srkdqltr Thursday #7
My reaction too! Alice Kramden Thursday #8
Great. Now we have a Potemkin White House. SeattleVet Thursday #9
He's going to remove the Ionic capitals (scroll shaped) and replace them with Corinthian style (probably gilded). QueerDuck Thursday #10
Another problem with Corinthian columns is they accumulate dirt more readily. Ritabert Thursday #14
Exactly! But they looks so CLASSY and REGAL... like an emperor would have! 🤢🤮 QueerDuck Thursday #17
Typical. Showy but tacky. Ritabert Thursday #24
The White House is built in the Neoclassical architectural style. QueerDuck Thursday #30
Correct. Ritabert Thursday #32
Totally unnecessary. It makes me sick. underpants Thursday #39
Agreed. It nauseates me too. QueerDuck Thursday #40
Show me the architectural review for his work on the White House columns. Botany Friday #48
His attack on the House is an attack on the people! Hope22 Friday #50
Call your Senators and Congress Critters and ask for a restraining order on Trump Botany Friday #52
My senators are seriously mentally gone! Hope22 Friday #55
Will the White House be a murky green when done? sinkingfeeling Thursday #11
* snort * Talitha Thursday #12
We are witnessing a break away government!! bluestarone Thursday #16
Man he loves those tarps doesn't he? FakeNoose Thursday #18
Tarp futures must be going sky high. Sneederbunk Thursday #43
WTF? Per the 2nd photo it looks like they took a picture of the facade, blew it up and then printed it on the tarp. chowder66 Thursday #19
that aint cheap. mopinko Thursday #31
Probably knows a tarp guy as well... EarthFirst Thursday #35
Dismantling the White House electron_blue Thursday #21
Just finish the job. The Madcap Thursday #23
Video here: CoopersDad Thursday #26
Same question I had for those Patriot Front goons-if you're not ashamed of what you're doing, why the mask? jls4561 Thursday #27
Good point. underpants Thursday #36
This makes me heart-sick Easterncedar Thursday #28
It not only makes me heart and soul sick... slightlv Thursday #42
... SheltieLover Friday #46
Piece by piece, without any authorization, Trump is destroying the White House, and no one will stop him. sop Thursday #33
And once again we need to remember and keep reminding the GOP that this is on their shoulders. Biophilic Thursday #34
Son of a bitch is gonna tear down OUR columns and replace them with his "corinthian" columns slightlv Thursday #41
He wants to rename the USA Trumplandia. BigmanPigman Thursday #44
Ark of the Covenant solved Dear_Prudence Friday #45
White House Lawn MissouriDem47 Friday #47
I want criminal prosecution for everyone involved in this illegal charade LymphocyteLover Friday #49
Destruction blitz Johonny Friday #51
Who did he give the no-bid contract to Diamond_Dog Friday #54
The no-bid contract to print those tarps couldn't have come cheap. Hugin Friday #56

tanyev

(50,058 posts)
1. "construction and repairs projects"
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 02:46 PM
Thursday

All we've seen so far, Forbes, is DESTRUCTION and NOTHING has been successfully repaired.

😒

Bengus81

(10,750 posts)
20. Gut Medicaid, shut down rural hospitals, run 5M off of the ACA with millions more
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 03:58 PM
Thursday

to follow them. Who gives a rats ass about your fucking columns Trump?

William Seger

(12,601 posts)
38. He has even less status than a renter -- we let him live there for free...
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 06:18 PM
Thursday

... and this is how he treats our property.

demmiblue

(40,152 posts)
53. Yep.
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 08:33 AM
Friday

During his late night posting frenzy 3-days ago to his social blog hellhole site, he posted this out-of-context image & I'm sure you can figure out the rest:

Trevor Foster (@darthfos.bsky.social) 2026-07-09T18:03:27.981Z

Buddyzbuddy

(3,154 posts)
3. Somebody feeling a little...exposed?
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 02:49 PM
Thursday

We know he feels a real threat which is why he left the plane.

Progressive dog

(7,665 posts)
13. Really big doors
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 03:42 PM
Thursday

to reach the pillars. Maybe people used to be 25 feet tall and a little bigger around than Trump.
IMO Just a poor excuse for having the pillars painted gold.

Alice B.

(774 posts)
22. My "freeze and seize his assets" fantasy now includes his having to pay to put all this damage to rights... better yet,
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 04:13 PM
Thursday

He has to work on a crew doing it as public service.

Remember that movie The Super?

rampartd

(5,970 posts)
37. not only your fantasy
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 06:09 PM
Thursday

states should begin civil forfeiture on the proceeds of their crime.

KT2000

(22,292 posts)
5. How is he allowed to do this
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 03:07 PM
Thursday

He is tearing up DC according to his own bad taste with no approval. He does not own any of this.

Bayard

(30,931 posts)
6. I would think he's allowed to do normal maintenance,
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 03:14 PM
Thursday

But not total replacement of anything. Unless he pulls another East Wing demolition style.

Lonestarblue

(13,694 posts)
15. We need laws forbidding White House construction and destruction by any president.
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 03:49 PM
Thursday

We have a historic commission, and members should not be chosen for political loyalties but for historical expertise. They should be in charge of repairs and restoration, not the president. It is not his house.

Alice Kramden

(3,007 posts)
8. My reaction too!
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 03:21 PM
Thursday

There are no norms, no process - and everybody just goes along with this destruction

QueerDuck

(2,547 posts)
10. He's going to remove the Ionic capitals (scroll shaped) and replace them with Corinthian style (probably gilded).
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 03:25 PM
Thursday

Currently, the White House porticos feature Ionic capitals characterized by scroll-shaped spirals called volutes. The more decorative (and tacky) style proposed to replace them is the Corinthian style, which features elaborately carved acanthus leaves. --- But gilded... oooo! So classy, eh? He's turning the White House into a Baroque Brothel


QueerDuck

(2,547 posts)
30. The White House is built in the Neoclassical architectural style.
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 05:28 PM
Thursday

Following expansions and rebuilds overseen by figures like Benjamin Henry Latrobe in the early 1800s, the structure integrated subtle Federal-style motifs and American materials, grounding its European geometry into a distinct American identity.

He wants to convert the White House portico into something that resembles a cathedral or temple. He's trying to turn the White House from a people's house into one that says "wealth" and "power" ... something that one would see at the Parthenon.

He's such a crass man... with tiny fingers and a mushroom dick (according to Stormy Daniels).

Botany

(78,474 posts)
48. Show me the architectural review for his work on the White House columns.
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 07:22 AM
Friday

You don’t just do things to the White House he should be removed for what he has already done
to the White House, the reflecting pool, pissing away 400 million dollars to fix up an outdated
747 that our intelligence agencies or Secret Service have no doubt found some kind of “bugs”
in it, and stealing the money for and ruining the 250th birthday of America. Not to mention his
unneeded war with Iran, his non stop grifting of America’s money, and his defiance of a court order
to release the Epstein files along with all the people he has murdered with his madness.

Btw his “election” was as legitimate as “his shooting” in 2024 in PA. You know what doesn’t grew
back? Cartilage and Musk has already admitted to being into the election data when he said on
Joe Rogan’s show that he had a special app that let him see the results early. That wasn’t an app
that was a hack.

Hope22

(4,992 posts)
50. His attack on the House is an attack on the people!
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 08:04 AM
Friday

That scaffolding is so close to the columns that I don’t see how work could possibly be done on the existing structure. The man should be removed from the property. He has zero authority to demolish the grounds or the House yet here we are! Those people hanging from the roof should be ashamed but they will demolish for a dollar bill. Scum!!

Botany

(78,474 posts)
52. Call your Senators and Congress Critters and ask for a restraining order on Trump
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 08:29 AM
Friday

This is madness. The old columns were just fine.

Hope22

(4,992 posts)
55. My senators are seriously mentally gone!
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 08:46 AM
Friday

They have no scruples, no human decency no moral compass. At times of my life I have literally called every senator in an afternoon. In the days when senators would take input from Americans no matter their home state. At this point a call to my two thieving morons only puts my phone number on their list of people to remove when the time comes. You are correct… it is madness!

bluestarone

(22,686 posts)
16. We are witnessing a break away government!!
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 03:49 PM
Thursday

Everything they do is just like they are doing with ICE All COVERED (MASKED) up so nobody can witness or investigate ANYTHING!!

chowder66

(12,778 posts)
19. WTF? Per the 2nd photo it looks like they took a picture of the facade, blew it up and then printed it on the tarp.
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 03:56 PM
Thursday

EarthFirst

(4,289 posts)
35. Probably knows a tarp guy as well...
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 05:35 PM
Thursday

…the no bid was probably close to $250,000 at which point six weeks later we’ll find out that they aren’t UV tolerant; need replacing; and the cost will skyrocket to over three quarters of a million dollars.

jls4561

(3,368 posts)
27. Same question I had for those Patriot Front goons-if you're not ashamed of what you're doing, why the mask?
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 05:24 PM
Thursday

slightlv

(8,327 posts)
42. It not only makes me heart and soul sick...
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 07:01 PM
Thursday

it absolutely enrages me! But one thing I've discovered through the years that I can do better when I'm enraged like this is work it out through cleaning. I don't know if you read my story of a few days ago of the flying mailbox and my exploding bathroom. Life has not exactly been easy around here at Casa Pie ligero (as close as I can come in spanish). So... I've determined I'm going to take my rage at this news and finish cleaning the mess in the bathroom. How fitting, since all he truly is was what my bathroom was filled with a few days ago! (I know... sorry... TMI)

sop

(20,206 posts)
33. Piece by piece, without any authorization, Trump is destroying the White House, and no one will stop him.
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 05:33 PM
Thursday

Biophilic

(6,858 posts)
34. And once again we need to remember and keep reminding the GOP that this is on their shoulders.
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 05:34 PM
Thursday

No one else is responsible for this destruction and pillage. The GOP owns this man and what he is doing. All of it.

slightlv

(8,327 posts)
41. Son of a bitch is gonna tear down OUR columns and replace them with his "corinthian" columns
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 06:56 PM
Thursday

that he's so enamored with. Damn him! HOW can we stop him from complete destroying OUR HOUSE?! And he thinks he can hang a huge tarp and we're stupid enough not to know what's going on behind there? No... I've now decided prison is too good for him. For destroying the Constitution, for having our service men and women undermine their oaths of office by obeying their superiors and actually disobeying the Constitution at times, and for destroying the People's House and multiple Monuments, the Man *must be found guilty and executed by firing squad in public (pay for view is optional).

Dear_Prudence

(1,220 posts)
45. Ark of the Covenant solved
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 12:33 AM
Friday

I have pondered how a most sacred object, like the Ark or the original Omphalos at Delphi, could be lost by great civilizations. Now I see it unfolding in real time before my eyes with the dismantling of our White House and its grounds. I guess back in the day, guys in sandals draped the Ark and the Omphalos, claimed to be "repairing it", and that was all she wrote...

MissouriDem47

(479 posts)
47. White House Lawn
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 12:49 AM
Friday

The White House Lawn looks worse than it did in the movie "Idiocracy" that predicted Trump 20 years ago.

Hugin

(38,156 posts)
56. The no-bid contract to print those tarps couldn't have come cheap.
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 09:00 AM
Friday

The very definition of “Potemkin”. I guess that clears up one item of discussion on the phone call with Pootie.



Pathetic.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»White House Hangs Tarps O...