Biden calls Trump's White House renovation an attempt to build himself a monument

Former president criticises changes to the residence

Joe Biden, who previously held the office of President of the United States, stated his position on the extensive construction work being carried out at the White House at the initiative of the country's current leader, Donald Trump, in a new exclusive interview with People magazine. The 83-year-old Biden, who answered journalists' questions at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, stated outright that these actions aim to create personal monuments.

«Майже так само тривожно, як золоті злитки на стінах Білого дому та Овального кабінету. Я маю на увазі, про що, чорт забирай, ми говоримо? Мене це непокоїть… Я розглядав рішення президента щодо знесення Східного крила та низки інших речей як ніщо інше, як спробу створити пам’ятники собі: "Я це побудував"» (It is almost as alarming as the gold bars on the walls of the White House and the Oval Office. I mean, what the hell are we talking about? It concerns me… I viewed the president's decision to demolish the East Wing and a number of other things as nothing other than an attempt to create monuments to himself: "I built this"), the former head of state emphasised.

Details of controversial projects

According to published information, in addition to the installation of gold decorative elements and the commencement of construction on a ballroom that is expected to overshadow the White House, the 80-year-old Trump has made a series of other changes. Specifically, the lawn in the Rose Garden, which has existed since the presidency of John F. Kennedy, was replaced with paving stones. A new helipad also appeared on the South Lawn.

Biden did not limit his criticism to changes within the residence, extending his comments to other construction initiatives by his predecessor, who has once again become his successor. «Я вважаю це нижчим за гідність країни» (I consider this beneath the dignity of the country), he added.

Dispute over the arch near the cemetery

A separate topic of discussion became Trump's insistence on building an arch on the Memorial Circle in Washington, DC. The project envisages that the structure will cast a shadow on the Arlington National Cemetery.

On 10 November, nine members of the Kennedy family filed a motion requesting permission to join an existing lawsuit challenging this construction project. The document states that the arch will block the view of the graves of Kennedy family members and the Eternal Flame, which honours the memory of the assassinated president.