By admin 
Historical photographs of the White House offer a glimpse into the appearance of the column bases at the center of President Donald Trump’s latest restoration project, revealing architectural details that appear markedly different from the patched surfaces visible in recent years.
Read more China aims to spur consumption in first five-year blueprint
Trump on Friday shared close-up images of the bases beneath several columns at the White House’s north entrance as the front was covered with a tarp last week. He described the condition of the structure as “deplorable” and promised to return the executive mansion to the “Glory of 100 years ago.”
“This is the horrible front of the White House, and it’s been like that for years,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The condition is deplorable.”
The president said the photographs showed part of the main entrance and argued the White House had become “an embarrassment,” adding that the area would soon become “a Symbol of Extraordinary Beauty and Pride.”
Newsweek reached out to the White House and National Trust for Historic Preservation via email for comment.
Historic Images Show How Column Bases Once Looked
The photographs Trump shared focus on the large pedestal-like bases beneath the north portico’s columns. Visible in the images are prominent vertical lines, alongside seams and surface irregularities that Trump cited as evidence of deterioration.
Other photographs taken before the work began show the bases covered in smooth white material marked by numerous patches and repairs, with sections appearing to have been resurfaced over time.
But archival images suggest the structures have gone through various appearance changes in their history.
A historic photograph of the White House north facade from a 1983 architectural report by the U.S. Department of the Interior shows the column bases standing out visually from the white columns above them. The bases have clean vertical lines and seem more stone-like, creating a distinct architectural contrast beneath the portico. Other pictures from the same report show the portico bases with natural stone details.
In an even older picture from around 1900 from Scenic Marvels of the New World edited by Prof. Geo.R. Cromwell, the column bases on the portico seem to have a darker paint at the base before extending into the iconic white columns.
Trump did not specify exactly what restoration work is being carried out, or whether the project is intended to recreate an appearance seen in historic photographs.
White House Design Has Evolved Over More Than Two Centuries
The White House has undergone repeated renovations, reconstructions and architectural modifications throughout its history.
Nearly every administration has left some mark on the executive mansion, commissioning changes ranging from major structural projects to aesthetic alterations reflecting different eras and tastes.
Read more Strategy bitcoin sales shine light on faltering crypto hoarding companies
The north portico itself was not part of the original White House design. Architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe designed the iconic entrance, which was added during the early 19th century and completed during James Monroe’s presidency following the War of 1812.
The building also underwent a sweeping reconstruction during Harry Truman’s administration between 1948 and 1952 after engineers determined the residence had become structurally unsound. While much of the interior was rebuilt, the White House’s historic exterior was largely preserved.
As a result, many architectural features visible today have been repaired, replaced or altered at various points over more than 200 years of maintenance and preservation work.
Part of Broader Changes to the White House
The column restoration is the latest in a series of projects Trump has announced at the White House and wider Washington, D.C. area during his second term.
From the so-called “Great National Security Facility and Ballroom” to a high-profile resurfacing of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool and interior White House additions including a golden-clad Oval Office and cursive signs throughout, Trump continues to make his mark.
The president has framed the latest work as part of a wider effort to enhance prominent public buildings and monuments in Washington, D.C.
“This is what we are doing all over Washington, D.C., and, in different ways, with our Country, itself!” Trump wrote in his post.
Backlash To Renovations
As renovations continue at the White House, some historians and advocates have mounted legal challenges to some of the administration’s larger projects, most notably the proposed White House ballroom, arguing that major alterations to the historic site should undergo additional review and receive congressional approval. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued in late 2025 to halt the ballroom project, contending that the demolition of the East Wing and subsequent construction proceeded without legally required reviews.
The litigation remains active. In March, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ordered a halt to portions of the ballroom project, ruling that the administration likely lacked the authority to proceed without congressional authorization, before the White House appealed.
A federal appeals court heard arguments in June, with the administration maintaining that the president has broad authority to renovate the White House complex and that construction should continue.
While the legal fight has focused primarily on the ballroom rather than the column restoration work highlighted by Trump this week, the dispute underscores broader tensions between preservationists seeking to protect the historic character of the White House and an administration pursuing some of the most significant physical changes to the executive mansion and its grounds in decades.
Read more DOJ investigating allegations around UAW President Shawn Fain
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 3:45 AM.