WASHINGTON — In a striking transformation, President Trump is revamping the West Wing’s landscape by replacing the traditional gray and brown pavers with a sleek black granite pathway, The Post has learned exclusively.
This renovation will impact the West Wing Colonnade, which serves as the walkway connecting the executive residence to the Oval Office.
Construction preparations commenced on Monday, setting the stage for this significant change.
The colonnade, a covered pathway lined with columns, runs adjacent to the Rose Garden and guides visitors past the Presidential Walk of Fame. This is where framed portraits of former presidents are displayed, with Joe Biden’s likeness represented by an autopen.
The introduction of the new black granite pathway is intended to provide a striking contrast to the gold frames that enclose the presidential portraits.
Meanwhile, the National Park Service will take custody of the current Tennessee flagstone pavers. These stones will be relocated to a nursery, where they will be preserved for potential future use.
Trump has been on a renovation kick at the White House in his second term, knocking down the East Wing to build a ballroom, redecorating the Oval Office, and adding gold-plated signage to various areas of the building. He’s also added new statues around the campus and paved over the Rose Garden to make it easier to hold events there.
“President Trump continues to implement long-overdue and necessary renovations to beautify the People’s House as we approach our great Nation’s 250th anniversary of independence. Thanks to the Builder-in-Chief, the White House will be properly glorified and remain in excellent condition for generations to come,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle told The Post.
The pathway, known as the “45-second commute,” was originally built for Thomas Jefferson as a covered area alongside spaces like the ice house and servants’ bedrooms.
It’s been used by every president since.
White House staff and guests also use the pathway to get between the Executive Mansion and the West Wing.
The president has expanded his vision for the nation’s capital beyond the White House to include designs for a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and a national garden of American heroes on the Potomac River.
