Posted on 10/26/2025 8:33:52 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Glenn Beck told a fun story about a recent visit to the White House, where he had a conversation with President Trump about the thinking that went into the new "gilded" Oval Office and the construction of a massive ballroom on the site of the East Wing.
Beck says Trump told him: "You see all the gold? It’s so important. These foreign leaders—they all come from palaces, and they don’t understand. And I know the White House is different, America is different, but they understand power in a different way. They’re coming from these old countries and these big buildings and these palaces. And it is important for us to project power."
"That is why he’s doing it. It’s not because he likes gold; he’s doing it to project power and wealth," Beck commented. "Notice how many prime ministers—they’re all flying in all the time from all over the world. I’ve never seen a president meet with so many foreign dignitaries in the White House, all the time." STU: I actually do have questions about this, though... I feel like there would have to be a conversation or a bill passed before we put a giant new building on the White House. But that's not how it works at all, is it?
GLENN BECK: The president says, "I want to change the White House. And the White House Architect says, "How?" And the he says, "This way." And the architect says, "OK, well you need to approva all the permits." "OK, well, I approve all the permits." Thsts literally how it works.
...
STU: I thought there would be more of a process.
GLENN BECK: Nope!
STU: Because I don't know that the American people realize what is about to happen. The White House...
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
Did he bring Cheerios with him?
The guilded oval office was a terrible idea - it looks like ass.
The ballroom is a brilliant idea, and badly needed.
A permanent place to hold receptions for visiting dignitaries is a good idea.
You can’t count on the weather in DC any more than anywhere else, and it’s far classier than tents.
It’s certainly a better decision than tennis courts or basketball courts, or bowling alleys, or whatever democrats wasted taxpayer money on.
That we don’t have a space for secure receptions for visiting heads of state imo is a serious problem.
Even a local Christian Church has a reception hall.
True.
I didn’t even think of the security issues.
And Trump voters can just go eat cake....
Maybe they dont want to spend millions on temporary large and unsafe tents for heads of state ceremonies.
Glenn is a fricking moron.
I agree. Too much bling. It reminds me of some of the blinged out palaces seen in the middle-east and Asia....gold all over the place. I wonder if that's where President Trump got the idea from. I know he likes gold. His place in Trump Tower is full of it.
He wants to turn the White House into the White Palace that projects power. That’s fine. Do it. But he will need to tear down some nearby structures. Start with anything erected by Democrats.
We’ll the only reason I can imagine that we’ve been doing tents on the Whitehouse lawn is purely because that is a controlable site.
I can’t imagine what security and scheduling issues would conplicate some local business venue. And if Trump can’t use one of his own hotel locations for a conference center or reception room it makes complete sense that the White House of all places has one.
This whole thing makes complete sense to anyone who actually thinks a bit about what goes into having some closed reception in their own community.
Not a hig fan of the gold embellishments.
Like the ballroom.
Big.
I agree with both your statements. The Oval Office is *way* over the top with gold. 😣
Don't drink anything because, since it is outside, you will have to use a Porta-Potty.
Not exactly a good look.
Not a fan of Mar-a-Lagoing the White House.
Yep, the gold stuff in every spot in that office is hideous and overdone. It looks cluttered.
“The guilded oval office was a terrible idea”
The guilded oval office was a wonderful idea - it looks like power, confidence, winning. .
Agree. The go,d is awful
Looks awful and tacky
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.