Trump is making major changes.
President Donald Trump has revealed a bold new proposal that’s already generating major buzz in Washington: a complete visual transformation of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB), the massive stone structure that sits just steps from the White House. Long mocked as the “ugly neighbor,” the building may soon receive a striking makeover as Trump pushes forward with another effort to restore historic American architecture.
In an exclusive conversation on The Ingraham Angle, Trump shared newly released renderings showing the building dramatically brightened with a clean, white exterior. In the White House with Laura Ingraham and Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo, the president explained that the EEOB’s original beauty has been hidden for decades under the building’s dark, weathered façade.
“When that building first went up, people thought it was ugly,” Trump said. “But when you really look at it — the craftsmanship, the detail — it’s actually one of the most beautiful buildings ever built. It just needs to be seen the right way.”
Trump explained that a deep cleaning and a fresh coat of white paint would bring out the intricate features that have been overshadowed for generations. Arroyo noted that the EEOB’s sloped roofs, heavy granite, and iron trimming give the building an almost gloomy, haunted-mansion feel — something a brighter exterior could finally fix. Ingraham, who once worked inside the building, admitted she appreciated the old gray look, though Trump joked that it resembled something “closer to a funeral home than a federal office.”
Completed in 1888 and designed in the elaborate French Second Empire style, the EEOB has long divided architectural critics. Some praise its historic grandeur, while others see it as one of Washington’s darkest, most somber-looking structures. The building originally housed the State, War, and Navy Departments, making it one of the most important centers of American foreign policy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Trump said he hasn’t officially approved the repainting yet, but he has already begun collecting bids from painters and restoration experts. If greenlit, the project would become another major restoration initiative under Trump’s watch — similar to his highly discussed plan to replace the East Wing of the White House with a privately funded, state-of-the-art ballroom.
Supporters see Trump’s efforts as part of a larger movement to restore pride, beauty, and craftsmanship to America’s government buildings. Critics, as usual, insist the president should leave everything exactly as it is. But Trump’s backers argue that restoring historic architecture and showcasing America’s heritage is one of the many reasons the former president remains a favorite among voters who want to see Washington finally refreshed and revitalized.
If Trump moves forward, the White House’s “ugly neighbor” may soon become one of the most eye-catching — and most celebrated — landmarks in the nation’s capital.