Trump Proposes Painting Eisenhower Building Next to White House

President submits plans to transform the historic government structure's appearance.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:42am

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A photorealistic painting of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in warm, golden light, with deep shadows accentuating the building's ornate, classical architecture, conveying a sense of the structure's historic significance and grandeur.President Trump's proposal to paint the Eisenhower building next to the White House raises concerns about preserving Washington, D.C.'s iconic architecture and symbolic landmarks.Washington Today

President Donald Trump has submitted plans to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, located next to the White House, citing concerns that the building's current slate gray color and design do not visually align with the surrounding architecture or symbolically connect to the White House.

Why it matters

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building is a historic government structure that has stood adjacent to the White House for over a century. Trump's proposal to alter its appearance is the latest in a series of controversial plans to transform the look and feel of Washington, D.C.'s iconic buildings and landmarks.

The details

In the proposal, the president argued that "the color, design, and massing of the existing structure does not align visually with the surrounding architecture and lacks any symbolic cohesion with the White House." Trump has not yet revealed the specific paint color he intends to use, but the plans are expected to be reviewed by the Commission of Fine Arts before any changes are approved.

  • President Trump submitted the painting proposal on April 10, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States who has proposed painting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House.

Commission of Fine Arts

The government agency that will review and potentially approve or deny President Trump's proposal to paint the historic Eisenhower building.

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What they’re saying

“The color, design, and massing of the existing structure does not align visually with the surrounding architecture and lacks any symbolic cohesion with the White House.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

What’s next

The Commission of Fine Arts will review President Trump's proposal and decide whether to approve or deny the plans to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

The takeaway

Trump's proposal to alter the appearance of the historic Eisenhower building is the latest in a series of controversial efforts to transform the iconic architecture and landmarks of Washington, D.C., raising questions about preserving the city's established aesthetic and symbolic significance.