President Donald Trump‘s remake of Washington has transformed some of the city’s most recognizable landmarks into construction zones.
For months, giant tarps have concealed some of Washington’s most recognizable landmarks as Trump plasters gold around the city.
Critics say the coverings have become just as recognizable as the costly renovations they hide.
The president has made no secret of his desire to remake Washington in his own image.
Last month, Trump proudly revealed the newly gilded Arts of War sculptures covered in 23-karat gold leaf.
Commissioned in 1929 to complement the Lincoln Memorial plaza, the former Bronze statues faced years of budget delays. Workers cast them in 1950, installed them in 1951, and repaired them in 1974.
One statue depicts Pegasus flanked by figures representing music and harvest.
Trump claimed crews simply cleaned the statues, but they now gleam with a bright gold finish that echoes his White House renovations.
Large tarps have covered sections of the North Portico while crews restore the exterior, remove aging paint and clean the stone. Officials say the coverings are standard construction containment, not a political decision.
Taking down the scaffolding around the regilded Arts of War sculptures! pic.twitter.com/ltSL9AdP8w
— Trumpusa1 (@Trumpusa1A1) July 29, 2026
Meanwhile, the two Arts of Peace statues remain wrapped in white tarps while crews complete the work.
Once the coverings come down, according to Elle Décor, the Arts of Peace monuments will match the gleaming gold finish already unveiled on the Arts of War sculptures.
The latest unveiling has done little to quiet critics. Comments on USA Today’s Facebook page quickly turned into another referendum on Trump’s makeover campaign.
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump just posted an epic image of the military structure and ballroom being built at the White House, with a DRONE PORT coming SOON
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 4, 2026
0 TAX DOLLARS!
"The Project is on cost, and substantially ahead of schedule. We are working very closely with the United… pic.twitter.com/DEqwVyJIsk
“Looking as tacky as the interior of the White House,” one person said. “Absolutely disgusting. Bronze ruined and money flushed down the toilet,” someone else wrote.
Two others blasted, “Good Lord! Stop the madness!!” and “O M G! WHEN WILL THIS INSANITY STOP?! ALL WITH OUR F TAX DOLLARS!
“So has it started to peel?” joked another, pointing to his Reflecting Pool.
View on Threads
According to The National Park Service, the project is expected to continue through September.
The statue restoration is one of more than a dozen second-term construction projects expected to cost over $1 billion.
The White House has also spent much of the summer hidden behind protective screens.
Earlier this year, another tarp-covered project fueled weeks of speculation around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
After months of vandalism claims and contractor disputes, the project remained hidden behind barriers until its unveiling, sparking fresh criticism over its appearance and multimillion-dollar cost.
Now, history appears to be repeating itself.
Trump also spent more than $95 million on National Park Service parks and monument upgrades. His plans include a proposed $100 million Triumphal Arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, changes to the Rose Garden, and a gold-filled Oval Office makeover.
“The French King constructed the palace of Versailles when the commoners were starving,” another commenter posted. As another clocked, “Tarp can’t hide that waste of money.”
Trump has repeatedly used giant tarps to hide his highest-profile construction projects until he was ready to unveil them.
The most controversial example came at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
After the president’s appointed board added his name to the landmark. That was short-lived, as a federal judge ruled Congress alone has the authority to rename the building.
Workers covered the façade with enormous tarps and scaffolding before removing Trump’s name overnight.
Even after court filings confirmed the original Kennedy Center name had been restored, the coverings remained in place for weeks, prompting U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper to demand an explanation for why they were still hanging over the building.
The board now faces an Aug. 20 deadline to explain the delay in removing them.
Whether the latest tarps come down quietly or with another triumphant Truth Social post, one thing is clear: in Trump’s Washington, the coverings have become almost as recognizable as the monuments beneath them.
