President Donald Trump is pursuing an ambitious transformation of Washington, reshaping landmarks, public spaces and even the city’s streetscape around a distinctly personal vision of American power and history.
The changes range from a massive ballroom at the White House and a revamped Kennedy Center to a proposed triumphal arch, a redesigned golf course and the deployment of National Guard troops across the capital. Many of the projects have drawn criticism from preservationists, lawmakers and opponents, while several are facing legal challenges.
Here is a look at the major initiatives reshaping Washington.
White House Ballroom
Trump has promoted a proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom as a signature addition to the White House, calling it the greatest facility of its kind.
The estimated $400 million project was initially described as privately financed by Trump and wealthy donors. The administration later sought $1 billion from Congress for an underground bunker and additional security measures, but that effort did not succeed. A complete list of donors has not been made public.
The administration says the project will incorporate bomb shelters, medical facilities and defenses against drones and missiles. Critics have questioned the decision to demolish the historic East Wing to clear space for the structure.
The Supreme Court allowed construction to continue in August while Trump challenges a lower-court order seeking to halt much of the work. Chief Justice John Roberts, dissenting from the ruling, said the project was likely unlawful.
Kennedy Center Under Trump
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has undergone a dramatic leadership and programming shift since Trump returned to office.
Trump removed the center’s previous leadership, installed his own board and pushed to add his name to the building. A federal judge ordered his name removed in May, while a later attempt by the board to restore it was rejected in September.
The board has also approved a plan to close the center for as long as two years for repairs and a $257 million renovation. Trump has declined to rule out demolishing the facility.
The annual Kennedy Center Honors, meanwhile, are scheduled to move to Capital One Arena in December.
Trump’s influence has extended beyond the Kennedy Center. The Smithsonian museums have also come under scrutiny after Trump ordered temporary signage at the National Museum of American History addressing what his administration described as inaccurate displays.
Reflecting Pool Dispute
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool became another flashpoint after Trump ordered its renovation.
What was initially described as a project costing up to $2 million ultimately involved more than $16 million in work. Contractors were brought in without a competitive bidding process, with the goal of completing the renovation before Independence Day.
The finished pool quickly developed peeling paint and algae, turning portions of the water green. Administration officials initially blamed vandalism, and a former U.S. Olympic canoeist, David Hearn, was arrested and accused of damaging the pool.
That case later unraveled. Prosecutors attributed the problems instead to what they described as a rushed and flawed installation process. A judge dismissed the charges in October and barred the government from bringing the case again.
A New Look Around the White House
Trump has also put his stamp on the White House grounds and the Oval Office.
Inside, the Oval Office has been redesigned with gold accents, statues, portraits and a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Outside, the Rose Garden’s traditional grass was replaced with a white-stone patio featuring umbrella-covered tables, a design reminiscent of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in Florida.
Statues of Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin have been installed, alongside a sculpture portraying Revolutionary War soldiers.
The West Wing colonnade’s decades-old flagstone walkway was also removed and replaced with black granite. Portraits of former presidents now line the wall, each accompanied by a plaque reflecting Trump’s assessment of that president. Joe Biden is notably absent.
A multimillion-dollar granite helipad has been planned for the South Lawn, while the grounds have also been redesigned following Trump’s decision to host an Ultimate Fighting Championship event there.
Lafayette Square, directly across from the White House, has likewise been undergoing renovation and has remained largely closed to the public during 2026.
The Proposed Washington Triumph
Trump’s plans extend beyond the White House to a proposed monumental arch near Arlington National Cemetery.
The structure is envisioned as a much larger counterpart to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, rising roughly 250 feet. Trump has described it as both a monument and a potential military facility containing drones and sniper positions.
Plans call for eagle statues and a Lady Liberty-style figure at the top. Its proposed location is close to the flight path of aircraft approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Veterans have challenged the project, arguing that it would interfere with the historic view connecting the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
East Potomac Golf Course
Trump is also pursuing a major redevelopment of East Potomac Golf Links, a century-old public course.
The president, an avid golfer and owner of multiple courses, has said he wants the renovated facility to be capable of hosting major tournaments.
The plans have sparked legal challenges from groups arguing that the changes conflict with the law governing the park. Questions have also been raised about how much public space would remain after the redevelopment.
Democratic lawmakers separately expressed concern that more than 35,000 cubic yards of debris from the demolished East Wing had been deposited at the golf course. An engineering report commissioned for the National Park Service identified toxic metals and other contaminants in some of the material, while the Interior Department said the project complied with legal standards.
Garden of American Heroes
Another long-discussed Trump project is the National Garden of American Heroes.
First proposed during Trump’s earlier presidency, the project received $40 million from Congress in 2025. Trump intends to develop it at West Potomac Park as part of celebrations surrounding the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
The proposed garden would feature statues honoring figures from America’s founding, military history, religious life, civil rights movement, sports, arts and entertainment.
Its planned opening has already been delayed, while preservation organizations have gone to court seeking to stop the project.
Soldiers on Washington’s Streets
Trump’s transformation of Washington has not been limited to buildings and monuments.
Thousands of National Guard troops have been deployed across the capital as part of his campaign to combat crime. Soldiers in camouflage and body armor have been seen around major tourist destinations, subway stations, monuments and the city’s baseball park.
But the scale of their direct involvement in criminal cases appears limited. An analysis found that National Guard troops were mentioned in only about 1.3% of criminal cases filed in the District’s Superior Court during the first year of their deployment. In many cases where soldiers appeared in court records, they were listed as crime victims rather than as arresting personnel.
Washington recorded an 18% decline in overall crime in 2025 and another 15% drop during the year through October 2, although violent crime increased in 2026.
Taken together, the projects amount to an unusually broad effort to alter the physical and symbolic character of the nation’s capital. Trump’s Washington is emerging through new stone, monuments, gardens, security installations and military presence — a transformation that has simultaneously attracted supporters and triggered fierce resistance.
