Trump Claims White House Was in Disrepair for 2nd Term

President Donald Trump claimed during a Police Week speech on May 12, 2026, that the White House was a "s**t house" when he moved in for his second term, citing falling columns and peeling plaster among its problems.

Speaking to law enforcement guests in the renovated Rose Garden, Trump said the building had not been properly maintained by his predecessors. "This place was not properly taken care of," he stated. He recounted advice from First Lady Melania Trump to act presidential and avoid foul language, adding, "I won't, therefore. Normally, I would have said it was a s**t house, but I don't want to say that."

Trump detailed his improvements, asserting that he personally paid for new stonework and other upgrades. "This place is tippy top now, including all the brand new beautiful stone," he said. "The columns were falling down, the plaster was falling off." He emphasized that the White House must look "incredible" and "pristine."

The president highlighted ongoing renovations, including a planned ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing. He described it as "the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world," equipped with six-inch-thick glass for safety. Trump linked the...