The Washington Post and Ipsos polled 2,600 adults and found more than 60% of Americans view President Trump’s Washington, D.C. construction projects unfavorably: 38% said they were “upset” and 27% “dissatisfied.” About 51% believe the president has a different goal than beautification; of those, 42% say the projects are meant to feed his ego. Separate reporting estimates taxpayer costs of at least $1 billion, and construction has disrupted public spaces across the National Mall.
Poll: Over 60% Of Americans Disapprove Of Trump’s Washington Projects — Nearly Half Say It’s About Ego
Nearly half of Americans think Trump’s DC projects are just to feed his ego
A Washington Post/Ipsos survey of 2,600 adults finds broad public disapproval of President Donald Trump’s construction and renovation projects across Washington, D.C., with many respondents saying the work reflects personal ambition rather than public benefit.
Key findings from the poll show 38% of respondents said they were “upset” and 27% said they were “dissatisfied” with the projects, while 12% were “enthusiastic” and 19% “satisfied.” Taken together, more than 60% expressed negative views about the changes to the nation’s capital.
President Donald Trump discusses his ballroom at the White House grounds. A new poll from The Washington Post and Ipsos found that more than 60 percent of Americans are unhappy with Trump's various projects around Washington, D.C. (AFP/Getty)
The projects under scrutiny include Trump’s short-lived effort to affix his name to the Kennedy Center; extensive alterations to the White House East Wing to accommodate a new ballroom; plans for a large triumphal arch; and controversial work around the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.
Partisan Divide And Independent Sentiment
Responses tracked predictably along party lines: Democrats were most likely to report being “upset,” while Republicans generally supported the initiatives. Notably, independents tilted strongly negative: 73% of self-identified independents reported unfavorable views of the projects, according to The Washington Post.
People walk past the drained Reflecting Pool on the National Mall on July 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Getty)
Motives And Public Perception
When asked about Mr. Trump’s motives, just over a quarter of respondents said they believed his goal was to “make Washington more beautiful.” However, 51% said they thought he had a “different goal,” and 22% said they didn’t know what was motivating him. Among those who suspect an alternate motive, 42% said they believe the projects are meant to feed the president’s ego, while 22% said they think he is trying to leave a lasting mark on the capital.
“Trump wants to build monuments to himself just like Napoleon did in France,” said a 70-year-old Republican from Minnesota, quoted in the poll coverage.
Costs And Disruptions
Separate reporting by The New York Times estimates that related expenses have cost taxpayers at least $1 billion, including spending tied to the ballroom (despite the president’s claims that it is privately funded), planned upgrades to the Kennedy Center, White House interior work, and roughly $14.8 million for changes at the Reflecting Pool. Congress has also approved approximately $40 million for a statue complex called the National Garden of American Heroes, which is expected to include hundreds of statues of prominent Americans.
Construction across the capital has caused noticeable disruption: Lafayette Park has been closed for work, and detours and fenced areas around the National Mall — including at the Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument — have left some visitors frustrated. “It’s not very welcoming,” a tourist from Iowa told WTOP. “It makes me feel like we are in a construction zone, or somebody’s done something very bad.”
Sources: The Washington Post/Ipsos poll of 2,600 adults; reporting from The Washington Post and The New York Times.
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