White House undergoes dramatic transformation: new helipad, ballroom and controversial architectural changes

United States President Donald Trump confirmed that work has begun at the White House to build a new helipad on the South Lawn of the presidential complex, a project he describes as "magnificent". The investment is part of a larger program to transform the official residence, which includes the construction of a large ballroom and changes to some historical architectural elements, projects that have already sparked political and legal controversy, reports AFP.

During an event held in the Oval Office, Donald Trump announced that the administration is working on building a permanent helipad on the South Lawn of the White House. According to the American president, the platform will be made of granite and will include the White House seal encrusted in stone. The chosen area is symbolic, being the place where, for decades, the presidents of the United States and their families have been photographed upon their arrival or departure on the presidential helicopter Marine One. The works became visible immediately after the dismantling of the stage used last month to organize a mixed martial arts (MMA) event, hosted on the same lawn.

• Trump: New generation of helicopters destroys the lawn

Donald Trump explained that the project is justified by the problems created by the new fleet of presidential helicopters produced by the Sikorsky company. According to the head of state, the force of the current generated by the rotors is seriously affecting the lawn around the Oval Office. "The helicopter landed and half of the lawn ended up in front of the Oval Office door," the president said.

Trump claims that the helicopter manufacturer has agreed to fully cover the costs of the project, estimated by him at between five and six million dollars. "When we found out they were paying, we said let's do something beautiful, not just a white concrete slab," said the White House leader.

However, the value of the investment is disputed. According to The Washington Post, the total costs of the project could exceed $13 million, as they also include the modernization of the south portico and the adjacent alley. The American newspaper also claims that the contractor was asked to accelerate the work so that it could be completed before an upcoming state visit, which the American press speculates could be that of Chinese President Xi Jinping, scheduled for September.

• The ballroom continues to generate disputes

In parallel, the Trump administration continues to build a vast ballroom, one of the president's favorite projects. The work involved the complete demolition of the East Wing of the White House and triggered a legal dispute over the limits of the president's authority to modify a building with historic status without the approval of Congress. During a meeting with visitors in the Rose Garden, Donald Trump complained about the lawsuits filed against the project. "In the world we live in, especially when your name is Trump, you end up in court,” he said. The president said the litigation had unexpectedly led to the discovery of a "tremendous military facility” beneath the future ballroom that he said was previously unknown to the public. Donald Trump suggested he planned to continue the aesthetic transformation of the White House.

Among the projects being considered is replacing the Ionic columns of the north portico with Corinthian ones, characterized by richer and more ornate decoration.

Over the weekend, the US president published several architectural sketches on the Truth Social platform showing a modified facade, including columns decorated with lion heads.

These proposals add to the changes already made to the Rose Garden, which was redesigned during the current term as a terrace inspired by the style of the presidential residence at Mar-a-Lago.

• Modernization and heritage preservation

The projects promoted by Donald Trump bring back into focus the debate on the limits to which historic buildings that represent national symbols can be modernized. Supporters of the administration argue that the investments aim to improve functionality and adapt the White House to new logistical and security requirements. Critics, however, say that the scale of the changes risks affecting the historic character of a building that represents one of the most well-known symbols of the American presidential institution.