After failing to win the Nobel Peace Prize, is Donald Trump now aiming for the Fine Arts? The American president has revealed a sudden artistic streak and has proposed privately to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB), located next to the White House. All this, with a “magic paint” based on silicate, according to CNN.
The Commission of Fine Arts, mostly composed of Trump loyalists, will officially review this project for the first time on Thursday. Projections show two options: painting the entire building white, or painting it white while retaining the original granite at the basement level. The White House states that the building “has been largely neglected since its construction in the late 1800s,” with stains, abrasions, and cracks due to a lack of maintenance.
However, two heritage preservation groups (DC Preservation League and Cultural Heritage Partners) claim that this project is illegal and that the paint will not work on granite. They have filed a lawsuit to block the work until a standard review process is followed. Donald Trump, on the other hand, claims that this “magic paint” would reinforce the stone, prevent water from entering, avoid stains, be easy to apply, and require very few touch-ups.
An analysis conducted by 25 anonymous experts, who have worked on major stone building restorations (including the White House and the Capitol), concludes that silicate mineral paints are not suitable for granite. They do not chemically bond to the stone, an application would cause permanent damage, and the paint would not reinforce the granite or prevent it from staining. Stains would be even more visible on a painted surface.
The groups propose alternatives: high-quality cleaning and conservation, renovation of ironwork, new lighting, installation of window film, and new landscaping. Preservationists believe that bypassing mandatory environmental and historical reviews could cause irreversible damage.
Completed in 1888, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building originally housed the State, War, and Navy Departments. Today, it serves as offices for the vice president, the National Security Council, and the Office of Management and Budget. Regardless, the French Second Empire style of the building has always been controversial. Mark Twain reportedly called it the “ugliest building in America.”
