Donald Trump’s Presidential Tour to Renovate Washington, DC

Washington, DC, it seems a little different these days. Since he returned to the office, President Donald Trump he has forced to rebuild the city in his image, to decorate the buildings with his name and flag with his face, to repaint all the monuments, and even to change White House only.

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary as a nation this weekend, visitors may be surprised to find the nation’s capital undergoing major changes and, in many places, undergoing construction.

On the evening of the Fourth of July, take WIRED’s walking tour through the challenges of Trump’s urban transformation.

Union Station

We begin our tour at Union Station, a beautiful industrial building that serves as Amtrak’s headquarters and the gateway to the city for visitors arriving by train.

Stepping out of the train’s main hall brings the first evidence of Trump’s efforts to clean up a previously neglected part of the District of Columbia: the redevelopment of Columbus Circle.

While many of Trump’s changes to the city have been widely criticized, the Union Station project has been well received by locals and corporate workers who ride the subway and walk across the street to the US Capitol.

After an 11.8 million dollar renovation, the place has working fountains (they dried up for about twenty years), and its marble statues have been cleaned. The homeless camps on the surrounding grass were cleared by the National Guard, who were also sent to the demonstration pool (more on that later).

New Signs for the Department of Justice and Labor

At another stop, turn right to reach Pennsylvania Avenue with the Capitol dome looming above the tree canopy around Senate Park.

But be warned, because almost immediately, a giant sign with Trump’s face will be staring you down the street from the side of the Labor Department building.