Axios: Put it on his tab

Posted on August 14, 2026 by michelleclarke2015
Put it on his tab
 
Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Suzanne Plunkett – Pool via Getty Images

The East Wing is gone, a new helipad is spreading across the South Lawn, and scaffolding wraps around the White House’s front columns. But the price tag for President Trump’s renovations is far less obvious, Axios’ Avery Lotz reports.

The muddled mix of funding streams includes private donors, taxpayers and, Trump has said, the president himself.

🤑 One tally finds that the president’s construction projects — including his new East Wing ballroom, upgrades to Lafayette Square and more — could cost at least $927 million, The Washington Post reports (gift link).

Senate Democrats are urging the Government Accountability Office to audit the ballroom project’s scope and cost.

The lawmakers cited a lack of transparency and “limited congressional oversight, meaningful public input, and adherence to established federal processes.” (Read the letter.)

🏗️ White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement that Trump “continues to implement long-overdue and necessary renovations,” calling him the “Builder-in-Chief.”

Ingle said the East Wing project is “inextricably tied” to security concerns, and pointed to an alleged plot to attack this summer’s UFC fight on White House grounds.
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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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