CNN anchor Dana Bash offered President Donald Trump an unusual compliment Thursday while discussing the latest renovation work underway at the White House, praising several of the administration’s restoration projects even as she poked fun at a tarp covering ongoing construction.
The comments came during Inside Politics with Dana Bash after new photos and video showed workers installing a large printed scrim over the White House’s North Portico. Rather than using a plain construction covering, the administration installed a tarp printed with an image of the White House’s iconic columns.
The renovation is the latest in a series of construction and beautification projects Trump has championed around Washington, D.C., including the highly debated addition of a new White House ballroom.
Bash Jokes About the White House Covering
Introducing the segment, Bash couldn’t resist poking fun at the unusual tarp.
“So this is the actual act of changing that clearly at the direction of the president himself,” she said before pointing to a live camera shot of the White House.
“You see there the North Portico? That’s not really the North Portico,” Bash joked. “That’s a tarp with the columns that the president likes painted on it.”
She contrasted the renovation with what she argued are more pressing concerns for Americans.
“This is taking place at the White House as the American people are really hoping that, yeah, maybe there are some beautification projects that need to be done in Washington, but there’s also some help that they need in their lives.”
Trump’s Building Projects Continue
CNN White House correspondent Betsy Klein said the construction projects have become central to Trump’s vision for his legacy.
“For Trump, this is the foundation of his legacy,” Klein said. “He believes that this is how he will be remembered.”
She noted that the administration began redesigning portions of the Oval Office before moving on to larger projects, including replacing the East Wing with a ballroom and now renovating the North Portico.
Wall Street Journal reporter Josh Dawsey added that Trump’s construction ambitions extend well beyond the White House itself.
“If you walk around D.C., particularly down by the White House, the city looks like a construction site,” Dawsey said.
He listed a wide array of projects the administration has pursued, including renovations at city parks, improvements around the Reflecting Pool, work in Lafayette Park, Logan Circle, Meridian Hill Park, and a proposed golf course replacing an existing public course.
“I mean, it’s just a staggering number of projects,” Dawsey observed.
According to Dawsey, administration officials say Trump remains personally involved in nearly every detail, frequently calling Interior Secretary Doug Burgum throughout the day to discuss ongoing work.
“The president is so focused on these projects,” Dawsey said, while questioning whether beautification efforts would resonate with voters heading into the midterm elections.
An Unexpected Compliment
Despite criticizing the emphasis on White House renovations, Bash acknowledged that some of Trump’s restoration efforts around the nation’s capital have noticeably improved public spaces.
“As a D.C. resident,” she said, “I think the fact that the fountains are working and they look nice again is tremendous.”
She quickly qualified the remark by adding, “The columns at the White House? Not so much.”
The compliment stood out given Bash’s frequent criticism of the Trump administration, making it one of the rare occasions the CNN anchor publicly praised one of the president’s initiatives.
Beautification as a Legacy
The latest White House renovation reflects Trump’s longstanding interest in architecture, aesthetics, and public spaces. Since returning to office, the president has made beautification projects a recurring priority, overseeing renovations at the White House while pushing improvements throughout Washington.
Supporters have argued the projects restore neglected landmarks and improve the nation’s capital, while critics contend the administration’s focus would be better directed toward policy priorities such as the economy, housing, or other issues affecting voters.
Bash’s praise for the restored fountains suggests that at least some of the administration’s improvements have won over unlikely observers.
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