More than 60 percent of Americans are critical of President Donald Trump’s various Washington, D.C. construction undertakings, and almost half think the primary goal behind his projects is to feed his ego, according to a new poll.
Amid an affordability crisis and his war with Iran, Trump has been focused on a number of projects transforming the look of the nation’s capital ranging from his now-unraveled attempt to put his name on the Kennedy Center and his destruction of the White House East Wing for his new ballroom to his plans for a massive Triumph Arch and his ill-fated renovations the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.
The Washington Post and Ipsos conducted a poll asking 2,600 American adults how they feel about Trump’s projects. They were given four response options: enthusiastic, satisfied, dissatisfied, and upset.
The poll found that 38 percent of respondents considered themselves upset by Trump’s changes to the nation’s capital, while another 27 percent said they were dissatisfied. Together, more than half of the respondents were critical of the president’s efforts to reshape the District.
Only 12 percent of respondents said they were enthusiastic about Trump’s efforts, and another 19 percent said they were satisfied.
The poll also found that responses changed based on the specific project. For example, more Americans were opposed to Trump’s ballroom — which will permanently change the look of the White House — than they were to his proposed arch or his changes to the Reflecting Pool.
Critical responses broke down along predictable party lines, with Democrats largely answering that they were “upset” by Trump’s changes and Republicans broadly supporting his efforts.
Among those who identify as independent, 73 percent said they viewed the projects negatively, the Washington Post reports.
While just over a quarter of respondents believe Trump’s intention with his projects is to “make Washington more beautiful,” 51 percent said they think he has a “different goal,” and another 22 percent said they have no idea what is motivating the president.
Of those who believe he has a “different goal,” 42 percent said they believe his aim is to feed his own ego. Another 22 percent said they believe Trump is trying to leave his mark on the nation’s capital.
“Trump wants to build monuments to himself just like Napoleon did in France,” one Minnesota Republican, age 70, said in his response.
According to a recent New York Times analysis, Trump’s projects have cost taxpayers at least $1 billion.
That includes his ballroom — which Trump insists is completely privately funded, despite evidence suggesting otherwise — as well as planned “upgrades” to the Kennedy Center, renovations to the White House interior, and an estimated $14.8 million for changes made to the Reflecting Pool.
Congress has also approved $40 million to build a statue garden Trump dreamt up called the National Garden of American Heroes, which is planned to include at least 250 statues of prominent Americans including figures like Justice Clarence Thomas and Charlie Kirk.
The ongoing work across Washington D.C. has also caused disruptions to the normal flow of foot traffic through the city. Lafayette Park, across from the White House, has been blocked off for construction.
Detours are in place all over the National Mall, including at the Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument, leaving visitors frustrated.
“It’s not very welcoming,” Liz, a tourist from Iowa, told WTOP. “It makes me feel like we are in a construction zone, or somebody’s done something very bad.”
