# What would happen if a new President decided to paint the White House a different color? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 14, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702 "2024-08-14T13:23:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/1 "2024-08-14T13:23:38Z")
Would pronouncements from the Beige House with the Green Shutters be taken as seriously? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/2 "2024-08-14T13:32:21Z")
It would rightly be considered a stupid and wasteful thing to do. And given that the expenditure to do so would have to be approved by Congress first, I don’t see it happening. And no, any President determined to paint the White House beige with green shutters would not be taken very seriously, either domestically or internationally. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/3 "2024-08-14T13:37:50Z")
It would still be called The White House. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/4 "2024-08-14T14:11:57Z")
Money? Every first lady makes the house over in her style. New china, decorating, red christmas trees, etc. Basically a waste of money. They have the money. They could paint it like a rainbow. For the price of one presidential overseas trip they could throw in the Capitol, too. But, in the spirit of inclusiveness for our Spanish speaking citizens, they should rename it Casa Blanca. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/5 "2024-08-14T14:38:45Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > It would rightly be considered a stupid and wasteful thing to do. Would it be wasteful? Surely it has to be painted from time to time anyways, right? (ETA, yes, it gets repainted every 4 - 6 years, or so says the internet) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/6 "2024-08-14T15:03:31Z")
Look, I think we’ve already had the only President who would consider it, and neither he nor his first lady did it. So I think we’re safe… for now. “Many people, big strong architects, have come up to me with tears in their eyes and they’ve said ‘Sir, we’ve never been more proud to be Americans. The pink, the aqua, and ALL this gilding on your palatial residence means our country truly is… the greatest.’ And this is the greatest, it’s greater than the Taj Mahal or Ver-sails… they say Vair-size over there, no one knows that, but I just found that out…” “And of course, you all remember the beautiful Christmas decorations that my even more beautiful wife put up in the White House. Well, hope you like the bare black trees with huge swaths of red and black, because that’s what the White House lawn is going to look like!” ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/7 "2024-08-14T15:06:15Z")
Truman [gutted the White House to the walls](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Reconstruction). Totally rebuilt the interior. AFAIK there were no restrictions on the design or work. They found charred timbers from the War of 1812. The British burned the White House. There are photos somewhere on the Internet. I don’t think Truman considered a different exterior color. Truman did change the exterior with the [Truman Balcony.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truman_Balcony) ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/8 "2024-08-14T15:09:11Z")
No Democrat would do this, because no matter what color they painted it, it would be labelled “gay”. A Republican could paint it any way they liked, because no matter how awful it was, Republican voters would declare it the Greatest Paint Job Ever, and Democrats would just say, “Well, at least he’s not fucking the couches.” ETA: also compare to Canada’s trials and tribulations with 24 Sussex. > **[24 Sussex Drive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Sussex_Drive#Architecture)** > > 24 Sussex Drive, originally called Gorffwysfa and usually referred to simply as 24 Sussex, is the official residence of the prime minister of Canada, in the New Edinburgh neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario. Built between 1866 and 1868 by Joseph Merrill Currier, it has been the official home of the prime minister of Canada since 1951. It is one of two official residences made available to the prime minister, the Harrington Lake estate in nearby Gatineau Park being the other. > The house at 24 Sussex... ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/9 "2024-08-14T17:27:16Z")
I was just in the White House two weeks ago (as part of a public tour) and it’s not even close to immaculate. It’s all very impressive but not because it’s preserved in time or gleaming. In other words, if there was much appetite for changing the appearance of the WH, there are plenty of areas to start small. The White House is maintained at about the level I’d expect from a 3 star hotel or major casino. Nice, very nice with plenty of amenities but easy to find signs of use and needing perpetual maintenance day and night. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/10 "2024-08-14T17:46:59Z")
The White House is under the National Park Service, so the president would likely have to gut the NPS leadership to get such a change approved. Uproar would be significant. I guess if he tried hard enough he could have the Liberty Bell repaired (recast) as well. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/11 "2024-08-14T17:54:27Z")
I hope they contact the HOA about those green shutters, first. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/12 "2024-08-14T20:46:10Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > A Republican could paint it any way they liked, because no matter how awful it was, Republican voters would declare it the Greatest Paint Job Ever, The one republican that had a chance to actually atttempt do this had already declared it a dump. It didn’t appear to worthy of a gold paint job or a big gold sign of his name on it. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/13 "2024-08-14T20:50:59Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > It would still be called The White House. I believe it’s official name is still “The Executive Mansion” ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/14 "2024-08-14T20:57:42Z")
He probably found out that they wouldn’t reimburse him if he paid for it himself, and that he couldn’t funnel the job to Trump Paint Co. if he used tax money. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/15 "2024-08-14T21:01:33Z")
If a rich and good president wanted to cut out the red tape and write a check of $50 million out of his own personal estate to pay for renovations, would Congress allow it? Assuming it’s reasonable things like a new lumbar mattress to sleep on, new piping, replacing moldy stuff, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/16 "2024-08-14T23:36:46Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > The White House is under the National Park Service, so the president would likely have to gut the NPS leadership to get such a change approved. Uproar would be significant. I guess if he tried hard enough he could have the Liberty Bell repaired (recast) as well. I agree. If a President tried to paint the White House a different color, he would be reminded that the White House doesn’t belong to him. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2024, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/17 "2024-08-15T02:18:31Z")
I hope Michelle’s White House garden is still being used. I remember they did landscaping with heavy stones that made it semi-permanent. It’s a relatively small expense to staff a couple gardeners. Provide fresh vegetables for the White House kitchen. The Obamas were giving the extra to food banks. [The gov web site is still up.](https://home.nps.gov/whho/learn/historyculture/white-house-kitchen-garden.htm) Can’t tell if the content is current. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2024, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-new-president-decided-to-paint-the-white-house-a-different-color/1005702/18 "2024-08-15T08:12:21Z")
It was still there and in use last I checked. > **[From Michelle to Melania to Jill: At Least the White House Garden Experienced...](https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/02/michelle-obama-melania-trump-jill-biden-white-house-vegetable-garden)** > > The vegetables are making it through winter. > **[White House Kitchen Garden - The White House and President's Park (U.S....](https://www.nps.gov/whho/learn/historyculture/white-house-kitchen-garden.htm)** Like the rest of the White House the National Park Service “own” it, but apparently the Burpee Seed Company subsidizes it as well.