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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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Since returning to office in 2025, President Donald Trump launched an ambitious effort to reshape parts of the White House and surrounding Washington, D.C. landmarks—from a South Lawn helipad to a brand new ballroom and even a proposed triumphal arch.
Here is a look at Trump’s overhaul projects that are re-shaping Washington, D.C.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
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What White House Renovations Did Trump Order?
Since returning to office, Trump has backed a series of renovations, restoration projects and new construction efforts at the White House and across Washington, D.C.
The White House updates range from cosmetic changes such as the Rose Garden redesign and Oval Office makeover to major infrastructure projects including a new ballroom, helipad and triumphal arch.
New South Lawn Helipad
In May 2026, plans were announced to build a helipad on the South Lawn of the White House.
Trump told reporters at the White House that the landing pad was necessary because the next generation of Marine One helicopters damages the lawn every time they land. "It's not that the grass gets discolored—it gets ripped out," leading to the decision to build the new helipad.
In a post on Truth Social on September 6, Trump announced the work was complete. The multimillion-dollar helipad features a prominent black-and-white version of the Presidential Seal, surrounded by a granite ring bearing the words "Seal of the President of the United States."
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The landing zone is connected to the White House by a newly paved pathway that runs from the circle toward the residence, creating a direct route between Marine One's landing area and the building.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday, the president wrote: “It is magnificently made of carved granite in shades of Black and White. It is truly a work of art and, even the Trump Haters are saying, 'Wow, that’s really good!'”
North Portico Column Restoration
In July this year, Trump dubbed the state of the White House “deplorable” as the White House told Newsweek that the North Portico columns were undergoing “standard restoration work” for stone repair.
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Revealing the before and after pictures of the columns on Monday, Trump said: “The White House was in very bad condition, both inside and out. Frankly, it was a 'dump!' Past Presidents did not take care of it.” The president added that the columns are now in "better shape than when built in 1792."
White House Ballroom Project
One of the bigger ongoing projects spearheaded by the president is for his “Great National Security Facility and Ballroom.”
Announced in July 2025, the administration argued a 90,000-square-foot expansion to replace the East Wing of the White House is needed to accommodate large state dinners, diplomatic gatherings and major ceremonial events.
By March 2026, Trump told reporters on board Air Force One that “the military is building a massive complex under the ballroom,” adding a bunker element to the project, which he first called a “Great National Security Facility and Ballroom” in June this year.
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The demolition sparked backlash from preservationists, historians and the public, with legal challenges appearing to question if the president can alter the grounds of the White House without congressional approval.
This week, Trump shared interior renderings of the White House ballroom, writing on Truth Social: "First interior renderings of the magnificent new Ballroom at the White House. Massively expensive, but free of charge to the American Taxpayer—On budget, and ahead of schedule!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Proposed Triumphal Arch
Proposed by the president in models in October 2025, a 250-foot triumphal arch that will be built in Memorial Circle at the foot of the Arlington Memorial Bridge is another ongoing project.
Renderings show a statue of Lady Liberty sitting atop the massive arch, which includes the phrase "One Nation Under God" written in gold. Four golden lions would sit at each corner of the statue’s base.
Trump has said Washington, D.C. was "the only city in the world that's of great importance that doesn't have a triumphal arch,” suggesting the design that would dwarf many of the world’s best-known arches including the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and India Gate in New Delhi.
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The National Park Service found that the project will have “potential adverse effects” on nearby historic properties, including a swathe of memorials from those commemorating World War II soldiers to those killed on Pan Am flight 103, all while looming over the Arlington National Cemetery.
Despite this, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said earlier this month that excavation work for the project is expected to begin in the coming weeks as the administration moves forward with preparations for construction.
Rose Garden Redesign
In 2025, the administration replaced the central grass lawn of the Rose Garden with a limestone patio.
The Rose Garden was established in 1913 by Ellen Wilson, the wife of former President Woodrow Wilson. It was later redesigned by President John F. Kennedy so that it could be used as a space for outdoor ceremonies.
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While the White House argued the redesign improved functionality and accessibility, critics questioned the alteration of such an iconic space.
Gold Oval Office and Interior Makeover
Beyond construction projects, Trump has reshaped the look of the White House interior with his trademark gold.
Since returning to office, he has introduced gold accents, gilded decorative pieces, ornate frames and gold-script signage throughout the Oval Office, while other parts of the building have also had additions, including cursive signs to buildings.
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What Is the Cost of the Renovations?
The full cost of Trump's White House and Washington makeover remains unclear because many projects are ongoing, while funding sources vary between private donations, corporate contributions and federal spending.
Trump has said the White House ballroom, one of the largest projects, will be funded without taxpayer money. However, reporting by The Washington Post has suggested the wider ballroom and security complex could ultimately cost hundreds of millions of dollars when related government work is included.
Smaller projects have carried lower costs. The Rose Garden redesign was reported to cost around $2 million and was funded through private donations. The final price tags for the proposed triumphal arch and several other projects have yet to be publicly finalized.
Taken together, the renovations represent an investment likely running into the hundreds of millions of dollars once completed, although the precise total remains uncertain because several major projects remain under construction or subject to legal challenges.
When Will the White House Renovations Be Over?
Several projects have already been completed, including the South Lawn helipad, North Portico restoration and Rose Garden redesign. Others remain under construction or face legal challenges, including the White House ballroom and proposed triumphal arch.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang
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