The demolition of part of the White House by Donald Trump raises the ire of several Democrats, including that of the governor of California. “He is tearing apart the White House as he is tearing apart the American Constitution,” wrote Gavin Newsom in a message that went viral in less than 24 hours.
Late Monday afternoon, the American president announced on his Truth Social network the start of work to build a “new, large and magnificent ballroom” in the White House. The hall, whose construction costs are estimated at $250 million, must have a surface area of more than 8,000 square meters and accommodate up to 1,000 people.
The reactions were quick. In the evening, the governor of California, Democrat Gavin Newsom, published a comment on X which has so far recorded 2.7 million views and 13,000 comments.
Gavin Newsom is very critical of the Trump administration. For some time now, he has been publishing messages on X, written in capital letters, which parody the publications of the American president. According to Richard Hétu, collaborator at The Pressthe Californian politician adopts a brawling tone that would appeal to Democrats who, since the defeat in November 2024, are looking for a strong personality to make an impact in the next presidential elections of 2028.
PHOTO PATRICK T. FALLON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
California Governor Gavin Newsom
A demolition criticized
Other Democrats were outraged, seeing images of the half-destroyed eastern wing of the White House. Hillary Clinton strongly criticized the work, indicating on X that it was not Trump’s house, but that of the American people.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren added that the images of the construction site represent Trump’s presidency: illegal, destructive and unhelpful.
With Agence France-Presse
