A single aerial photo of the White House grounds has critics demanding the next president undo Trump's pet project.
Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), a longtime member of the House Democratic leadership, shared the image Wednesday, showing President Donald Trump's half-built ballroom stretching out beside the executive mansion as cranes loom over its exposed frame.
"I hope everyone takes a good hard look at this picture," Clyburn said. "Trump's under-construction ballroom is now bigger than the rest of the White House. Much bigger."
In the photo, the ballroom's boxy, unfinished shell sprawls across a footprint that appears to dwarf the historic residence next to it, with the familiar South Portico looking small by comparison.
Clyburn's post quickly set off a wave of reactions from Trump critics, several of whom called for the structure to come down once Trump leaves office.
Norman Ornstein, a political scientist and emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, urged anyone eyeing the presidency to commit to razing it on day one.
"I want every putative 2028 candidate to pledge that on January 20, 2029 he or she will sign an executive order to tear down this monstrosity," Ornstein said.
Michael A. Cohen, a political columnist and author, aimed his demand squarely at the opposing party's field of hopefuls.
"Every Democrat running for the White House in 2028 needs to pledge to tear down this ferkakta monstrosity upon taking office," Cohen argued.
Shannon Watts, founder of the gun safety group Moms Demand Action, offered a blunter verdict.
"Tear this s— down," she responded.
Susan Glasser, a staff writer at The New Yorker, kept her reaction brief as she shared Clyburn's image with her own followers.
"Truly amazing," Glasser remarked.
The demands put a fresh spotlight on what Trump's eventual successor might do with the project, as Ornstein and Cohen both cast a teardown pledge as a test for anyone hoping to win the White House.