Insider reveals the moment Trump decided he wanted to make over DC in his own vision

Insider reveals the moment Trump decided he wanted to make over DC in his own vision What Trump saw in the summer of 2023 was the beginning of his ‘new fixation,’ according to insiders - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Donald Trump was on his way to a federal court to face election interference charges when he decided he wanted to give Washington, D.C. a drastic makeover, according to a report. What the real estate mogul and then ex-president saw from the window of a Chevrolet Suburban en route to the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in the nation’s capital on August 3, 2023, was the beginning of his “new fixation,” insiders told Semafor. Crime and the scale of homelessness in D.C., with encampments lining the streets and debris in the roads, saw Trump regard the city as “a second-tier swamp town that had slouched into its status as imperial capital,” according to the outlet. Less than two years later, when he re-entered the White House in January 2025, Trump wasted little time in executing his vision for the capital, launching a federal incursion that summer where he deployed the National Guard to the streets. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was “outraged over the intrusion on our federal autonomy” at the time, and a study last month found the action had “no measurable effect” on reducing violent crime. Since then, Trump has only intensified his beautification project of the capital and the White House, ripping out the historic East Wing to make way for his $600 million ballroom; paving over the lawn of the Rose Garden to replace it with Mar-a-Lago-style furniture; launching a botched refurb of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool; and he has plans to install a 250-foot-tall “Triumphal Arch.” “We know that he was a builder at heart,” a former official told Semafor. “This is clearly something the president cares strongly about.” The White House said the capital had been “long forgotten and shamefully neglected” until Trump came along. “Historic landmarks such as fountains, parks, memorials, monuments, and public spaces have been restored to pristine, world-class condition, allowing Americans from all across the country to enjoy them again with a great sense of pride,” spokesperson Taylor Rogers said. While the trip to court sparked Trump’s longing to give D.C. a facelift, he had been thinking about the capital “for years,” according to his longtime adviser and ally, Michael Caputo. In particular, Trump had been disappointed with the 1976 bicentennial celebrations, calling them “underwhelming” and saying that the country “could have done a much better job,” according to Caputo. But under the second Trump administration, the 250th celebrations have experienced a series of mishaps and seen two rival event committees — one MAGA-aligned and the other nonpartisan — warring over similar plans. Trump’s Great American State Fair, organized by the White House-backed Freedom250 group, has seen artists drop out, dwindling crowds, and reported power failures due to the searing heatwave. A portion of the main stage built for Trump’s Fourth of July celebration also collapsed during a rehearsal session, nearly crushing a performer. Footage circulating on social media showed a group of dancers rehearsing their routine to music this week before they stopped as a piece of the overhead structure broke off from the top and fell onto the stage. A Freedom250 spokesperson said the organization “take[s] the safety of our performers, crew, volunteers, and guests extremely seriously” in a statement to The Washington Examiner. “The work underway was taking place on the backside of the stage, separate from the front thrust where performers were rehearsing,” the spokesperson told the outlet. “Additional safeguards and senior technical oversight are now in place as preparations continue,” the spokesperson continued. “Freedom 250 and our performers remain fully focused on delivering an unforgettable celebration for the American people.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments