Military historian Edward Lengel said Thursday the Trump administration was "smacking" the Founding Fathers "in the face" by demolishing the East Wing of the White House to make way for President Donald Trump's ballroom.
During a podcast with former CNN host Jim Acosta released Thursday, Lengel said, "I've written a bunch of books about George Washington, including for the 1790s when he and [Thomas] Jefferson were working together and conceptualized the White House with James Hoban. So, they had an idea of what they wanted."
"Andit'sreallyonthatpoint,Ithinkthatthey'rejustlikesmackingthefoundersintheface.Andthatreallybothersme," he said of the Trump administration.
He continued: "WashingtonandJeffersonworkedtogetherontheconceptofwhatthe President'shouse,theexecutivemansion,wasintendedtorepresent.Washingtonunderstoodthesymbolism.HeunderstoodtheprecedentthatwasbeingsetonsomanydifferentlevelsasdidJefferson.And,youknow, it'saninterestingcontrastbecauseJeffersonandWashingtonwerepoliticalopponents.Theydisagreedonalotofthingsandtheycametoreallydislikeeachother, particularlytheeraoftheFrenchRevolution,theyhadverydifferentideas."
Lengel added that Jeffersonwantedthehousetobesmaller, but Washingtonthoughtitshouldbebigger.
"Buttheyworkedtogether,justasintheConstitution. Somanypillarsofoursocietyandourgovernmentformedbycompromisetodevelopacommonsymbolthatwasmeanttorepresentacertainideaofwhatthisrepublicrepresented."
Lengel added: "Now,Icansaywithabsolutecertainty,ThomasJeffersonwouldabsolutelygoballisticallyinsaneifheknewaboutthisballroom."
Lengel further argued that theideainthefirstplacethatthisstructurepaystotalrespecttotheexistingbuildingjustbyitsexistencedisrespectstheexistingbuilding.Itturnsthe Mansion Houseintoanannextotheballroombecauseofthesize.Ittotallydoesthat," he added.
He also criticized conservatives for supporting the move.
"I'maconservativeinalotofways, and I thinkconservativesarebeingdisingenuousaboutthis. Dothefoundersmatterordon'ttheymatterdoestheirintentmatter? Areyoureallyanoriginalistorareyousaying, 'ohwait, theydon'tmatterorweneedtomodernizethem,'which I findhighly ironic," Lengel said.