Oh, is someone being impeached??
On Tuesday first lady Melania Trump ignored Capitol Hill and calls of impeachment and stuck to her own agenda, announcing the construction of a new tennis pavilion on the White House grounds.
“It is my hope that this private space will function as a place to gather and spend leisure time for First Families,” Trump said in a statement.
The new pavilion is being funded by private donations, the White House said, though no details about the construction’s cost were available.
In a tweet, the first lady shared a photo that showed her, wearing her trademark stiletto heels, breaking ground by the old White House tennis court.
According to CNN [1], while there has been no previous news of the new pavilion from the White House, nor of its projected existence, in June the National Park Service, which operates the 18-acre grounds of the White House, submitted a proposal about the structure and its construction to the National Capital Planning Commission.
Exciting to break ground on the new tennis pavilion project at the White House today. Thank you to all who will help in making this legacy piece possible for future first families to gather at and enjoy for years to come. @theNationalMall [2] @NatlParkService [3] pic.twitter.com/UcYLeJ27Ni [4]
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 8, 2019 [5]
The building proposal states the pavilion will “provide a unifying element for the tennis court, the Children’s Garden and the Kitchen Garden,” according to CNN. The Children’s Garden was installed in 1968 by former first lady Lady Bird Johnson, while the Kitchen Garden was created in 2009 by then-first lady Michelle Obama.
But people seem to think there is an ulterior motive afoot.
Former President Barack Obama had converted the tennis court to a basketball court…by painting basketball court lines and adding a hoop.
He's probably taking out Obama's basketball court cuz' you know, dismantle everything from the Obama Administration.
— Juli Briskman (@julibriskman) October 8, 2019 [6]
One more thing to outrage me, demolition of Obama's basketball court to replace with a tennis court… WHY?😖 pic.twitter.com/UCQsdTHBDo [7]
— Josephine Russo (@Josephi19326608) October 9, 2019 [8]
Let me guess, they reconstructed the Obama basketball court to a tennis court. why? Trump’s fat ass can’t even walk; he certainly doesn’t have the stamina for tennis.
— simone (@reelmoments1) October 8, 2019 [9]
What the heck? NO ONE plays tennis there. That's OUR house, not you guys'. Why the heck you guys ripped out President Obama's basketball court for that crap? Come on now! And plus its on OUR dime, not NPS or the National Mall.
— Tia (@TFerrandino) October 8, 2019 [10]
Just thought. Obama turned that court into a tennis *and* basketball court. Your scumbag husband just loves to try to undo anything Obama did. Well won't work. He also loves to waste other people's money- corrupt criminal! You are an accomplice!
— MungoJerry (@MungoJerry16) October 8, 2019 [11]
What? Something wrong with the Obama basketball court. Or is this another excuse for the grifter occupants in @WhiteHouse [12] to spend taxpayer dollars. Whatever! Your time in this government subsidized housing comes to an end next year. Don’t think Bureau of Prisons has tennis.
— Steve Greenberg (@sgreenbe) October 8, 2019 [13]
However, there is no plan to remove the basketball court.
The proposal described a two-phase plan. According to the proposal, the first phase will “replace a small building that currently houses a restroom and a storage space on the White House grounds just southwest of the White House itself.” The second phase will involve replacing a maintenance building dubbed “The Pony Shed,” which is used by National Park Service workers.
Prior to the Trumps moving into the White House, Obama offered to leave the jungle gym he had erected in 2009 for his two young daughters. Trump declined, and the Obamas donated the jungle gym and swing set to a local organization for those in need.