Journalism of Courage
Onward Together, the Political Action Committee (PAC) launched by the former Democratic Party US Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, has started selling merchandise targeting President Donald Trump amid the criticism over his demolition of the East Wing of the White House.
The Onward Together PAC is selling merchandise, including hats and stickers reading ‘Not His House. Our House.’
According to Clinton, proceeds from the sale of the merchandise will be used to support progressive groups working to build an inclusive America and win elections.
“If you’re hopping mad about Trump destroying the White House, we’ve got a new hat or sticker for you. Your purchase supports progressive groups working to build a fairer, more inclusive America for everyone—and win elections,” she said on X.
This comes as anger is mounting over Donald Trump’s demolition of the White House East Wing for the construction of a ballroom.
The two-story structure of drawing rooms and offices, including workspace for first ladies and their staffs, has been turned into rubble, The Associated Press reported.
Trump said Wednesday that keeping the East Wing as is would have “hurt a very, very expensive, beautiful building,” referring to the ballroom that he said presidents have wanted for years.
According to Trump, he and some of his friends would pay for the ballroom, nearly twice the size of the White House, which is estimated to cost $300 million.
When the ballroom was first announced in July, it was estimated to cost $200 million, but last week, Trump updated it to $250 million, and on Thursday, he put the price tag “in the neighbourhood” of $300 million.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt attributed the demolition and higher building cost to changes that happen with any construction.
“The plans changed when the president heard counsel from the architects and the construction companies who said that in order for this East Wing to be modern and beautiful for many, many years to come, for it to be a truly strong and stable structure, this phase one that we’re now in was necessary and the president wants to do right by the ‘People’s House,'” Leavitt said at her press briefing Thursday.
The White House has been pushing back against criticism of the ballroom plan and elimination of the East Wing by noting the history of add-ons to the Executive Mansion during its more than 200-year existence.
Trump aides argue that the president’s plan follows that history, even though the proposed ballroom would be the biggest of all the modifications to the White House.
Trump allowed the East Wing demolition to begin without advance warning on Monday and despite not having approval from the relevant government agencies with jurisdiction over construction on federal buildings.
The East Wing, which is across East Executive Avenue from the Treasury Department, has been the traditional base of operations for the first lady and her staff, along with the social office, military office and the visitors office, among others.
Those operations have been temporarily relocated to workspace elsewhere on the White House campus. The East Wing is where visitors entered for public tours and to attend events, such as White House state dinners, holiday and other receptions, and events featuring the president.
