Trump demolishes entire East Wing of the White House to put up his vanity project

I can’t quite put my finger on it, but all this seems like some sort of metaphor for something or the other:

The White House is demolishing the entirety of the East Wing to make way for President Trump’s $200 million ballroom, a construction project that is far more extensive than he initially let on, a senior administration official said on Wednesday.

The tear-down should be finished by this weekend, according to the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the plans.

When Mr. Trump first announced his plans for the ballroom, he pledged that the East Wing wouldn’t be touched by the construction.

“It’ll be views of the Washington Monument. It won’t interfere with the current building. It’ll be near it but not touching it,” the president said. “And pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of.”

But, upon further evaluation, the White House determined it was cheaper and more structurally sound to demolish the East Wing to construct the ballroom, rather than build an addition, the official said.

The new structure will also have enhanced security features, the official said.

Mr. Trump is raising tens of millions in private donations to fund the project, the official said. The president plans to contribute some of his own money as well, though the amount has not been determined, the official added.

Brazen lies? Check.

Violation of federal law? Check

Wanton destruction in the pursuit of grotesque nouveau riche excess? Check.

Also, let’s just linger on this sentence for its sheer black humor:

The president plans to contribute some of his own money as well, though the amount has not been determined, the official added.

While murdering random fishermen for propaganda purposes is infinitely worse, this is the kind of thing that might actually upset somebody important.

. . . As Scott points out any Democratic presidential candidate worth a second look will promise to bulldoze whatever monstrosity Trump puts up, and then dynamite it for good measure.

Lori in comments points to this important symbolic feature of the demolition:

Many don’t realize the East Wing symbolizes the work of our First Ladies—both because the offices of First Ladies & staffers are located there, and because First Ladies have historically conducted social duties via this entrance—their portraits align the lobby.

In a very meaningful way, Donald Trump is erasing the work and the space that has been painstakingly carved out for women both at the White House, and throughout this country. Given the records of abuse by his alleged victims, surely this was not merely a fortuitous coincidence of his design aesthetics.