President Donald Trump’s transformation of the nation’s capital enters its next chapter. The story of Trump, 80, wanting to remake Washington, D.C., in his own image has dominated his second term. In particular, the MAGA frontman set his sights on giving the White House a major makeover. T he administration has altered the Executive Mansion in several ways in recent months. President Donald Trump is under fire for his White House helipad project. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Trump’s latest project at the People’s House involves installing a new helipad. Construction crews have already broken ground on the multimillion-dollar landing site. Last week, he signed one of the helipad’s granite slabs on the South Lawn during the official unveiling of his latest vanity project. ‘So Now He’s Suddenly an Expert?’: Trump’s White House Lawn Fix Turns Into a Bizarre Sales Pitch After He Brags About ‘Free’ Grass “It’s very exciting, very exciting, and I think it will be here for a long time,” Trump told reporters during a tour of the construction zone. Crews have reportedly been working “around the clock” to finish the helipad. The POTUS apparently wants the job completed for his big showcase for another world leader. According to The Washington Post, his latest rush job has damaged the White House’s exterior. The South Lawn is already “torn up.” But now crews are also raising its level to match the new helipad. After expressing unhappiness with the helipad’s original slope, Trump had contractors redo weeks of work so that the helipad would sit level with the horizon. A new era for the White House President Trump shows off the beautiful new White House helipad to the press, etching his name into history and giving massive credit to the construction crew who helped make the helipad a reality. pic.twitter.com/vv36DMxW0b— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 19, 2026 “We took it up and redid one aspect because we had a lot of slope on it, and I felt it was too much slope. It’s a slope for the rain, but I felt it was too much slope,” Trump said last week. The helipad undertaking is estimated to cost around $13 million. In addition to the new landing pad, changes to the White House driveway and South Portico are also underway. With the price tag likely growing due to changes in plans, whether American taxpayers are on the hook for the expenses remains a constant concern. Trump claimed aerospace manufacturer Sikorsky was footing the bill. Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky’s parent company, told ABC News that it made the financial contribution to the National Park Service. Social media users still criticized Trump for spending so much time overhauling the White House’s appearance. Even if Sikorsky and other corporations donated money to complete the helipad project. Social media users still criticized Trump for spending so much time overhauling the White House’s appearance. Trump: "We're building a helipad. Beautiful helipad. And it's got the seal of the White House on in granite, carved granite. It's really a beautiful thing. Sikorsky is paying for it. It's about $5 or $6 million." pic.twitter.com/VhoEMHjFhA— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 6, 2026 One Trump critic wrote, “That helipad is not going to put food on the tables of suffering Americans. It’s not going to pay the medical care for sick Americans. Trump doesn’t care [about] the American people.” “Why is Trump so consumed with making monuments to himself? History will still treat him as the worst President we have ever had!” exclaimed another X poster. Similarly, a commenter tweeted, “We don’t need a helipad. This administration is an embarrassment and a disaster.” “Said helipad will crater at some point soon when a helicopter lands on it. Then Trump will blame somebody else,” predicted a skeptic of the hastily done effort. 'I LOVE CONSTRUCTION!' President Trump unveiled the White House's brand-new multimillion-dollar South Lawn helipad, giving reporters a first look at the updates—and even signing one of the stones. pic.twitter.com/pUnYJhFHRg— FOX Friends (@foxandfriends) August 19, 2026 For months, Trump has shown off Mar-a-Lago-esque renovations to the White House, making his presidency reflect his gaudy, glitzy decor style. Golden trinkets and wall accents now adorn the Oval Office. Trump has continued his gilded theme by installing a “Presidential Walk of Fame” featuring gold-framed portraits of former presidents. Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private Palm Beach resort, also appeared to inspire the transformation of the iconic White House Rose Garden into an outdoor patio space, complete with gold-and-white umbrellas. In October 2025, the president sparked national outrage by demolishing the White House’s historic East Wing to build a 90,000-square-foot state ballroom. Legal battles over the proposed venue remain ongoing. The South Lawn and nearby Ellipse also suffered heavy damage in June after President Trump hosted the UFC Freedom 250 event on the grounds. He even teased making the MMA octagon cage a permanent landmark. ‘A Disaster’: Trump’s White House Makeover Spirals Further Out of Control as Damage Mounts and Crews Scramble to Finish Another Rush Job ...read more read less