46 Comments
User's avatar
Katharine Hill's avatar

What a way with words you have, Tina! I’m still in shock but somehow strangely soothed to know that you share my outrage. And is it any coincidence that the East Wing was used by many First Ladies? (Given the absence of one in this administration most of the time.)

Tina Brown's avatar

Thanks muchly ! and yep, the whole female gene of the White House has been hit by a cannon ball.

Dale McDonald's avatar

Brilliant word-smithing—-aimed clearly and directly at the Truth. Thank you.

Tina Brown's avatar

glad you appreciated ! T

Robin Patterson's avatar

$300 million and counting to build a big, ugly, box store, building? Despite his claims, Trump clearly knows nothing about building costs. Let's be honest; he'll probably pocket the budget and stiff the contractors, anyway. While the next Oval Office occupant can trash the cheap, spray painted tchotchkes and restore the rose garden, there's no way to reverse the Soviet style structure squatting on the East lawn. There's only one way Dems can steal Trump's triumph: rename his temple of gaudy, self glorification The Barack Obama Ballroom. Boom!

Tina Brown's avatar

what a fabulous idea, true payback for this latest desecration of history! T

Robin Patterson's avatar

It's the only payback that that will pierce Trump's alleged heart. If he reaches his expiry date before 2028, it'll be the gift that'll keep on giving for eternity ;-D

Robin Patterson's avatar

The East Wing's gaping wound looks like it was the target of a vicious terrorist attack, which it was. POTUS is a domestic terrorist who's intent on destroying America. He may succeed, given the accelerating rate of violence and deconstruction in just the first 10 mos of his term. Where's the Marvel Superheroes when you need them?

Tina Brown's avatar

I hand thought of that but you are right. We didn't need Osama Bin Laden to take out the most valuable High Value Target America has! T

Robin Patterson's avatar

By destroying the East Wing, Trump gave his third wife - and America's First Lady - an excuse to work from home in NYC ;-D

Tina Brown's avatar

LOL. Have to say Melania herself seemed startled to find she had no where to work if she ever wanted to! T

Tod Cheney's avatar

We have to admit the efficiency is impressive. And I've never paid enough attention to state dinners and balls to know the guest had to use porta potties. Good heavens. But I do know the rich know no rules. On the Maine coast we had rules about cutting down trees between a house and the shoreline. Time and again the rich ones cut whatever they wanted to get their view, and then paid the paltry fine. What a joke. I'd love it if the next president, if there is one, tore down the Trump Big Ballroom ( no permits required ), and started over from scratch.

Tina Brown's avatar

Yes ,the efficiency of pulling off this stunt in the dead of night I guess is impressive. Even more so would be to get another wrecking ball to the scene a week after it goes up. T

Tod Cheney's avatar

Fingers crossed.

Janice Aubrey's avatar

Speaking of Tina’s way with words, all you fans. How about “PETTIFOGGING”? Huh? Huh? Go Tina!

Tina Brown's avatar

You likey? Its a British word, much loved by my father. T

Deb K's avatar

I kind of like the Lincoln Project idea to name it the Epstein Memorial Ballroom. I do have a serious question though...how is it the best interest of the billionaires to destroy the entire US economy? I just don't get why they are funding all of this.

Tina Brown's avatar

Greed for access. Deals they get cut in on. As long as the stock market keeps going up they don't care. T

Frau Katze's avatar

The billionaires are funding stuff to curry favour. Think mob shakedown.

Tina Brown's avatar

And the baffling thing is this is a group who truly are rich enough to tell him to get lost, but they roll over and play ball.

James Rock's avatar

Real kings build palaces, but King Donald is just adding an extension.. is it true that McDonalds will get the catering contract when it opens?

Tina Brown's avatar

Depends how much McDonalds have already given in payola, I guess. T

Patricia Harmanci's avatar

As Dale (above) states: brilliant word-smithing as only you can do! BTW: on a plane from Zurich I saw you in the HBO special on Ralph Lauren. Your way with words is spot on and so yummy—even when it’s the fall of our country.

Tina Brown's avatar

Thank you for this. I do these docs some times and completely forget about them so now will check out this ! T

Barbara Hart's avatar

Please tell me how, as a paid subscriber, I can access Tina’s interview directly on Wednesday. In the recent past, I’ve had trouble finding her live interviews and end up missing them. Frustrating!

Tina Brown's avatar

Just go on to the Fresh Hell web site. Should be posted there ! T

L Simmons's avatar

I think she sends out emails so check your inbox

Tina Brown's avatar

And yes, we do send out email reminders. T

Melissa Sullivan's avatar

Your mention of the “gilt-edged hippodrome” also made me think of Versailles. Being over budget by $100 million doesn’t seemed to have phased anyone involved. Will the royal family kick out Prince Andrew for good? I’m sure you’ll be on it if they do. Another great piece. 🤗

Tina Brown's avatar

Its astonishing how much cash gets thrown around with zero accountability. See my latest post today about the fate of Prince Andrew ! T

Damion Matthews's avatar

The image you conjure of Fred Trump inviting a crowd "to throw bricks at the smiling face on the glass facade of the park’s Pavilion of Fun" -- terrific! It should be the first scene for whatever biopic eventually gets made about Trump which I absolutely will refuse to watch.

Tina Brown's avatar

I think Fred Trump's awfulness, like Elon Musk's demonic father, is the source of all Donald's crazy insecurity and greed.

James Butler's avatar

WOW! A provision in the National Historical Preservation Act of 1966 that omits the White House from strict review, just brilliant. I guess this means we are on phase one and phase two will be to demo the White House altogether and built a gold tower, I can see it now. And Congress and our Supreme Court will sit by and let him do it. God help us all.

Tina Brown's avatar

Its mind-blowing isn't it. A loop hole that Trump could, and did drive a truck through. T

Paul Watkins's avatar

That is a completely genius idea - the next Democratic president converts the super-sized ballroom into a “seminar space for Ivy League eggheads talking about the climate crisis and the history of slavery”.

That sentence must contain at least 5 words that President Trump finds triggering. I hope he is lying down when it is announced.

My only question is where do I send my $10 to help pay for the cost of converting the hideous ballroom?

Was it convenient that the demolition was started while the government is shut down? So presumably the officials who might have applied for a court order to halt the demolition were not at work…

Tina Brown's avatar

I am sure the govt shut down was very much part of the stealth mission of demolishing the East Wing with minimum over sight. Not that congress would have tried to stop it, given their supine record so far,

melissalvla's avatar

So good!!! That photo of Fred looks so different in this new light. One can only hope DJT isn’t the one to build anything anywhere. ✌️❤️

Tina Brown's avatar

Trump got the father he deserved and vice versa! T