East Wing demolition is a sign of Trump's quest to remake the presidency in his image
ADRIAN FLORIDO, HOST:
The East Wing of the White House is gone. President Trump once said that the White House would go untouched during the construction of a massive, privately funded ballroom. The sudden unannounced destruction is the latest example of the president's explicit quest to remake the White House and the presidency in his image.
I'm joined now by NPR senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro to look at how Trump's curated image is part of how he wields power. Hey to you both.
TAMARA KEITH, BYLINE: Hello.
DOMENICO MONTANARO, BYLINE: Hey there.
FLORIDO: Tam, let's start with you. Images of the demolition at the White House have been pretty jarring for people who see the building as a physical symbol of the U.S. What does the ballroom symbolize for Trump, though?
KEITH: Trump often talks about this as the golden age of America - golden because he is back in office. He has an opulent ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and has long complained that the White House doesn't ha
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