The New Gilded Age

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a massive Lorde fan. It’s in part because of her lyricism, and in “Still Sane,” the bridge repeats “Only bad people live to see / Their likeness set in stone.” This line has never been more relevant than it is today. 

It’s no secret that the political landscape of Washington, D.C. is undergoing a massive change. Most recently, President Donald Trump launched “Operation Epic Fury” on Feb. 28, 2026, entering the ongoing conflict in the Middle East—a decision that faces congressional resistance. However, since Trump’s inauguration, it’s clear his actions go beyond politics and signify his larger effort to cement an unprecedented legacy. 

Trump has turned his attention to the landscape of D.C. itself—specifically, the monuments that physically realize American history. Between banners bearing his face hanging from federal buildings, paving over the Rose Garden, and the gilding of the Oval Office in gold decor, America’s capital is being remade. 

Trump’s most notable architectural undertaking began on July 31, 2025, with the announcement of new construction at the White House. The plans consisted of removing the East Wing and constructing a 90,000-square-foot ballroom in its place. It was originally stated to cost $200 million to complete, but prices doubled as the project commenced. My evaluation of this choice extends beyond the cost: the new design is visually discordant with the rest of the historic home. It nearly dwarfs the building’s main structure, offsetting the former balance between the East and West wings.

It’s not like he’s the first president ever to remodel “America’s Home.” President William Howard Taft spearheaded the remodel and expansion of the West Wing, creating the Oval Office, which is now the hub of presidential power. President Harry S. Truman bolstered the structural integrity of the historic building itself, and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was famous for her restoration efforts and garden redesign in the ’60s. First Lady Michelle Obama recently led the addition of the White House Kitchen Garden. 

However, it’s also true that these architectural changes come with immense uncertainty—especially regarding project finances. The majority of renovations were carried out through congressional appropriations, which required legislative approval. Over the past 100 years, only one project has been privately funded: a $299,000 bowling alley addition in 1973 for President Richard Nixon and his family—until now. Trump had initially suggested that he would foot the bill as his own personal contribution. Then, suddenly, the new ballroom was funded by tech and defense companies like Amazon, Apple, Palantir, Lockheed Martin, and Google. Now, Republican senators are advancing legislation to provide $400 million for the project, straight from taxpayers’ pockets. 

Aside from the potential administrative issues that arise from this project—including deviating from the longstanding practice of submitting plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, which all other presidents have followed—this architectural remodel reflects the broader ideological changes afoot in the nation today.

First, his solicitation of funds from these companies is unsurprising, given that he was surrounded by some of the wealthiest tech moguls at his inauguration, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Tim Cook. But for a president who has consistently run on right-wing populist platforms, especially regarding immigration and the economy, it’s fairly telling where his true loyalties lie. Coupled with the mere suggestion that taxpayers could actually foot the bill for this ballroom, his project is questionable at best, and downright deceitful at worst.

Furthermore, this construction required the demolition of the White House East Wing. His choice isn’t just that of a homeowner seeking to remodel their kitchen—the White House represents the will of the people; it’s a site of protest and a symbol of “what it means to be American.” Trump’s second term has done just that, specifically through sweeping changes to immigration policy that have deeply affected U.S. students on Harvard’s campus and in other communities. His choice to change the arguably most important monument in the country signifies a momentous shift in what it truly means to be an American. 

The East Wing was also home to the Office of the First Lady, as well as the official public entrance and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. It’s been said to be a “space of female power and a female niche in the White House,” yet that very symbol of women’s empowerment has been destroyed with the flourish of a pen and the swing of a wrecking ball. 

I’m not one to speak for Trump on whether he intentionally demolished the East Wing, or if he even cared for its historical significance at all. But it’s rather telling that the First Lady has failed to make any significant public remarks on the destruction of her historic offices, and that her staff has been scattered amongst the various workspaces within the building. 

Monuments are a means to preserve the present so we can tell a story to future generations. Our history as Americans has celebrated the most notable founders. President George Washington was honored with a monument for leading the country through its founding. President Abraham Lincoln received a memorial for preserving the union during the Civil War and helping emancipate enslaved individuals in the South. We commemorate those who bravely fought and died for America during World Wars I and II, the 9/11 tragedy, and countless other conflicts. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most famous civil rights leaders in human history, is commemorated for his fight to obtain justice, liberty, and equality.

Each represents a moment in America’s history that altered the fabric of our nation and celebrates those who make our country stronger, not weaker. What does it say about our country that some are now choosing to destroy history for their own personal gain?

Trump has made an apparent effort to change things across Washington, not just at the residence. He has fought to temporarily close the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts—the nation’s cultural center and memorial to John F. Kennedy—as well as proposed a 250-foot triumphal arch near the D.C.-Arlington border, and sought to turn a municipal golf course into a “luxury” destination. He embarked on a renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and renamed the Kennedy Center after himself. 

I won’t make an overarching characterization of Trump himself, but I think Lorde reminds us that positive legacies are felt by those we leave behind. One’s legacy isn’t artificially created by plastering a last name on a building or erecting a gaudy arch; it’s conveyed through the meaningful impact one makes on the lives of others.

It’s baffling to me that the East Wing is gone. A city that I had come to love and appreciate, not just as an individual, but as an American, is changing in ways I would never have expected. Yet one thing Trump’s presidency has shown me is that more can be changed than you think. As we stand at an ideological and cultural crossroads, I hope we find more moments in our future that warrant the erection of monuments celebrating our nation’s collective successes.

Seyi Amosun ’29 (samosun@college.harvard.edu) thinks Lorde songs are the key to just about everything.