Trump Helipad Rework
Trump ordered revisions to a newly built White House helipad, delaying the project.
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Updated Aug 4, 6:31pm ETEvery side, every morning
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The reporting
Contractors have begun removing parts of the 100-foot-wide granite presidential seal in the new White House South Lawn helipad after President Donald Trump ordered weeks of work redone over its appearance and slope. The permanent landing pad, confirmed by Trump on July 6, is a $6 million project funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary. The helipad is intended to protect the lawn from Marine One landings after the new VH-92A Patriot helicopter scorched grass during tests. It is unclear how the changes affect cost or timeline.
Analysis & opinion
Costly helipad redoMostly Left
Trump turned the White House helipad into a wasteful mess by rejecting completed work and demanding changes. Taxpayers are being stuck with higher costs because of his personal preferences and mismanagement.
Renovation fixationMostly Left
Trump’s White House helipad fight fits into a larger pattern of obsessive construction and renovation projects. His presidency is becoming defined by a destructive urge to remake Washington’s physical spaces.
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