Washington, DC, looks a little different these days. Since his return to office, President Donald Trump has pushed to physically remake the city in his image, adorning buildings with his name and banners with his face, repainting entire monuments, and even changing the White House itself.
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary as a country this weekend, tourists might be surprised to find the nation’s capital undergoing immense change and, in many places, under scaffolding from ongoing construction.
On the eve of the Fourth of July, take WIRED’s walking tour through the dizzying effects of Trump’s metropolitan makeover.
Union Station
We start our tour at Union Station, the beaux arts building that serves as the Amtrak hub and gateway to the city for visitors arriving by train.
Stepping outside the grand train hall brings the first evidence of Trump’s efforts to clean up once neglected parts of the District of Columbia: the renovation of Columbus Circle.
While many of Trump’s changes to the city have received heavy critique, the work on Union Station has been broadly welcomed by locals and congressional staff who commute by metro and walk across the traffic circle towards the US Capitol.
After an $11.8 million rehabilitation, the landmark has functional fountains (they were dry for nearly two decades), and its marble sculptures have been cleaned of grime. The homeless encampments on the surrounding grass have been cleared by the National Guard, who have since been redeployed to the reflecting pool (more on that later).
The Department of Justice and Labor’s New Banners
For the next stop, turn right to reach Pennsylvania Avenue while taking in the serenity of the Capitol dome visible above the tree canopy around the Senate Park.
But be warned, for almost immediately, a giant banner featuring Trump’s face will stare down at you onto the street from the side of the Labor Department building.
