WH 'aware' of 'problematic' optics as Treasury demands staff 'refrain' from construction pics

The viral optics of a demolished East Wing at the White House appears to be a concern for the Trump administration, which issued an email Monday to staff at the Treasury Department warning them not to post any more pictures of it, according to CNN.

“As construction proceeds on the White House grounds, employees should refrain from taking and sharing photographs of the grounds, to include the East Wing, without prior approval from the Office of Public Affairs,” the email reads, according to a Treasury official.

The photos of the construction of President Donald Trump's $250 million ballroom went viral Monday showing a demolished East Wing despite Trump's earlier promises that it wouldn’t “interfere” with the existing White House structure.

The Wall Street Journal broke the story and quoted a Treasury Department spokesman who said the email was sent to employees because photos could “potentially reveal sensitive items, including security features or confidential structural details.”

Social media lit up in reaction to the Treasury email, but consensus is this "concern" is too little, too late, if at all genuine.

Attorney Aaron Parnas wrote, "The White House has ordered Treasury Department employees not to share pictures of the White House demolition according to the Wall Street Journal. It would be a shame if this picture went viral then."

Journalist Chris Geidner put out a call for even more pictures from the Treasury on his Bluesky account, writing, "If you’re at Treasury and can share any pictures, my Signal is crg.32."

"Now remember everyone, just because it's true doesn't mean you're allowed to say it. You work for the government. You're job is to toe the line and make Dear Leader look good," wrote X influencer and writer Rogue Potus Staff.