‘National security’ is Trump’s catchall excuse as he tries to turn DC into a fortress

The Trump administration is leveraging the notion of national security to transform key areas of Washington, D.C., into a fortress surrounding President Donald Trump. This could be a genuine concern over potential invasion, due to the administration's recent aggressive actions, or it may simply be an attempt to secure funding for Trump's personal projects. National security functions as a blanket justification for consolidating presidential power.

President Trump has previously utilized the concept of national security to support a range of policies, from imposing tariffs and deportations to launching extrajudicial attacks against alleged drug-trafficking vessels and expanding U.S. presence in Greenland. Now, it is being employed to alter the capital into a fortified version of itself.

The East Wing demolition, initially presented as ballroom renovation, is now marketed as a substantial underground military installation. This project required approximately $400 million in taxpayer funds, despite Trump's previous pledge that it would be privately financed. The deployment of National Guard troops along tourist areas has been extended until the end of Trump's term, adding another $1.4 billion to the overall expense.

The triumphal arch, which Trump intends to construct, will serve as a weapon storage facility and drone port. The press corps is now labeled as a national security threat, with the Justice Department defending the president's decision to expel reporters from multiple news organizations by arguing that their reporting on the ballroom project and the Iran war could pose a security risk. A court hearing regarding this controversy is scheduled for Wednesday.

Trump's supporters and media outlets such as AP, CNN, and MS NOW and Politico have been met with signs of opposition on the White House grounds.