Bill Maher says Trump is 'not leaving' the White House

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00:00Bill Maher says Trump is not leaving the White House.

00:04Comedian and political commentator Bill Maher has sparked debate

00:07after declaring that President Donald Trump's demolition of the White House East Wing

00:11is symbolic proof that he's not leaving.

00:14Maher calls out Trump.

00:16On Real Time with Bill Maher, the HBO host discussed the sweeping renovations

00:20with former RNC chair Michael Steele and ex-Biden communications director Kate Bedingfield.

00:26The symbolism is he's not leaving, Maher said.

00:30Who puts in a giant ballroom if you're leaving?

00:33The East Wing.

00:34The East Wing, once home to lavish receptions and state events,

00:38was demolished to make room for a sprawling 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

00:43Surfaced photos showed construction equipment tearing into the century-old structure,

00:47one of the most historic parts of the White House complex.

00:50Trump has claimed the nearly $300 million project is funded out of his own private pockets,

00:55as well as through contributions from many generous patriots

00:58and several major corporations including Apple, Google, Lockheed Martin, and T-Mobile.

01:04Maher's panel discussion.

01:06During the panel, Steele called the sight of heavy machinery tearing through the White House

01:10a fitting metaphor for Trump's presidency.

01:14We watched this week the destruction of a symbol of government,

01:17of our democracy, of our pluralistic society, Steele said.

01:20Steele went on to condemn Trump for

01:22destroying the East Wing without accountability,

01:25a sentiment Maher partially agreed with.

01:28You know, he should have gotten the permits, but that's how he does things.

01:32But it is just a building, first of all, he said.

01:35East Wing overhaul

01:36Nixon put in a bowling alley.

01:39Obama made the tennis court a basketball court, he said, adding,

01:42I can't get this mad about everything, Mike.

01:45I just can't.

01:46Priya Jain, chair of the Society of Architectural Historians Heritage Conservation Committee,

01:51told NPR the East Wing overhaul is the largest White House renovation since the 1940s.

01:57Bedingfield closed the debate by arguing that Trump's actions go far beyond aesthetics.

02:02It's part of a manner of governing that is tearing at some of the foundations,

02:05and that's scary, she said.

02:07Bye.