President Donald Trump has praised ongoing renovations at the White House, describing the building as being in "very bad condition" before the current work began and claiming it had effectively become a "dump" under previous administrations. The remarks, posted on Truth Social, are the latest in a series of comments defending the extensive structural and cosmetic changes he has pursued at the property, some of which have prompted criticism from preservationists and faced legal challenges.

Trump said the White House's exterior was "practically falling off" and credited the Department of the Interior and contractors with restoring it to a condition he claims is better than when it was built in 1792. His broader renovation programme has included fortifying the North Portico, adding gold ornamentation to the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, paving over the Rose Garden, and demolishing the East Wing to make way for a planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The administration has also overseen changes to other Washington landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the Kennedy Center, and backed plans for a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery.