Overview
- The president posted before-and-after photos showing the Lincoln Bathroom refitted from 1940s art-deco green tile to black-and-white Statuary marble with gold fixtures and a chandelier.
- He asserted the makeover is appropriate to Abraham Lincoln’s era, a claim some historians and reporters have questioned based on historical descriptions of the quarters.
- The White House did not respond to questions on whether the bathroom project underwent any formal design or approval process, a point of concern for preservation watchers.
- The announcement lands during a larger overhaul that includes demolition of the East Wing for a privately funded ballroom estimated at $250 million to $300 million, prompting transparency and access concerns from Democrats including Rep. Adam Schiff.
- Critics highlighted the timing during a prolonged government shutdown affecting food assistance, and a federal judge on Friday ordered the administration to use emergency funds to cover SNAP benefits in November.