Colbert on W.H. East Wing Demolition: Trump’s ‘Literally Erasing History’

COLBERT: “Trump also floated the idea of using the $230 mil for his remodel-the-white-house-fund, which brings me to new low number two.
(Audience boos)
This afternoon we learned that, to make room for his stupid giant ballroom, Donald Trump has approved the demolition of the entire East Wing of the White House.
(Audience boos)
Yeah. Yeah. Now, I understand this is not the first wing he’s destroyed, but it’s the first one that wasn’t covered in Buffalo sauce. And this one is truly heartbreaking. We have a photo to show you, but I’ll show you later because I want you to laugh at some of these jokes. He is literally erasing U.S. history, a feat previously achieved only by the Florida school board.
(Laughter)
And he’s moving fast.
(Cheering and Applause)
And he’s moving really fast. The East Wing is already halfway gone.
(Audience reacts)
That is horrible. I thought it couldn’t get worse than his first term, when he gave the Washington Monument truck nutz.
(Laughter)
And just remember, when Trump first announced his plans for the ballroom, he pledged that the East Wing wouldn’t be touched by the construction. Now, to be fair, I would not describe that photo as ‘touched.’ More like stabbed and then thrown down an elevator shaft by construction. The worst part of this is... all of it. Especially the fact that they consulted no one before doing it. Now, normally, when you alter any federal building, you must first present the plans, but according to an administration official, ‘Construction plans have not been submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission, but will be soon.’ Soon? You’ve already torn it down! ‘Hey, dad? Hey, dad? Sorry to call so late. But I have some bad news about your car. Before I get into all that, um, can I borrow your car?”
(Laughter and Applause)
Thank you. I can still play a teenager. I can still play a teenager. But the White House claims everything’s fine, because while the commission oversees construction, it does not have jurisdiction over demolition work. That’s just performative confusion. ‘The instructions said I should cook the chicken to 165 degrees. It didn’t say I couldn’t commit arson!’”