Trump: The construction of the White House banquet hall will take two years and will be "the best in the world"
American Chinese News reported NBC News reported on Thursday, during an executive order signing ceremony held in the East Room of the White House, President Trump spoke about the newly built White House banquet hall and said that the project will be completed in about two years, and he said, "it will be the best in the world."
Trump said that day, "By the way, in about two years, we will be able to use a larger room behind me." He also joked, "We have to refuse many people who want to come in."
"Then, we can walk from this room into a room that can accommodate more people," he added, "They have wanted it for 150 years, and now they finally get it, and it's the best - it will be the best in the world."
Trump said, "It already looks pretty good now, but it will look even better in a while." He also said that this banquet hall "has become very popular indeed."
However, this statement is not consistent with recent public opinion polls.
According to a poll conducted at the end of last month by The Washington Post, ABC News, and Ipsos, more than half of Americans oppose Trump's $3 billion project to build this banquet hall. 56% of respondents said they "somewhat" or "strongly" opposed the project; only 28% said they "somewhat" or "strongly" supported the project.
The cost of the project will reach $3 billion, higher than the initial estimate of $2 billion for the White House this summer. However, Trump said that the project will be "fully funded by private money" and will not use taxpayers' money.
After promising the American public in July that his banquet hall plan would "be located near the East Wing of the White House, but not interfere with the East Wing," Trump completely demolished the East Wing extension built during the Roosevelt era and proceeded with the project without prior approval from the National Capital Planning Commission or explicit authorization from Congress.
Democrats and preservation groups strongly protested this, calling on Trump to disclose the relevant review procedures. However, legal experts also pointed out that buildings such as the White House may be exempt from a key historical preservation regulation. (American Chinese Television)
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848748079609864/
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