Scaffolding Remains at White House As Trump Posts Photo of Ornate Columns [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Scaffolding has appeared around several columns on the White House's North Portico, prompting a fresh wave of speculation about whether President Donald Trump could be preparing another change to the executive mansion as his administration continues an extensive makeover of both the White House complex and wider Washington, D.C. landmarks.

Images shared on social media over the July 4 weekend showed workers standing on scaffolding erected around the White House's iconic white columns. One widely circulated post claimed Trump was planning to replace the columns entirely, fueling renewed debate over the future appearance of one of the nation's most recognizable buildings.

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Questions about the columns have been circulating for months following comments from Rodney Mims Cook Jr., chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, who suggested replacing the North Portico's existing Ionic columns with more ornate Corinthian columns.

"Corinthian is the highest order [of column], and that's what our other two branches of government have," Cook told The Washington Post. "Why the White House didn't originally use them, at least on the north front, which is considered the front door, is beyond me."

The proposal immediately drew criticism from architects and historic preservation advocates, who argued that altering the column style would fundamentally change the building's appearance and historic character.









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