King Charles could also be compelled to make use of a conveyable bathroom when he visits White House
King Charles may have to brave a portable toilet on his White House visit as Trump’s East Wing rebuild forces world leaders into tents and outdoor loos
King Charles might be forced to use a portable toilet when he visits the White House this April. The King will be afforded all the traditional niceties of a state visit when he crosses the pond this April – but he may be in for a rude awakening when he visits the president’s home.
This is because Donald Trump is now entertaining his guests on the South Lawn as the White House’s historic East Wing is currently undergoing a facelift as a 90,000-square-foot ballroom is built.
Will Scharf, the White House staff secretary, explained how the King may potentially have to slum it on his much-anticipated visit stateside.
As it now stands, world leaders that come to visit the country are hosted in large tents on the South Lawn as the East Room is too small to accommodate such large numbers therefore, during such events guests are taken to outdoor toilets so as not to have herds trailing in and out of the White House just to pop to the loo – and Scharf said the King will likely be given the same treatment.
“I think it’s notable that when the president of the United States of America flies to the United Kingdom, he’s hosted at Windsor Castle,” he said.
“And when, next year, the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland comes to the United States, more likely than not, he will be hosted in a tent on the South Lawn with porta-potties.
“That, to me, is not a good look for the United States of America.”
Mr Scharf, one of Mr Trump’s top aides, made the comments while overseeing a meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which met to discuss ongoing White House renovation plans last Thursday.
Mr Trump began ripping down the East Wing of the 226 year old building in October to make space for a sprawling, 90,000sq ft ballroom as part of a $400m (£297m) reno to the White House.
Renovation king Mr Trump has previously made a fortune in construction and real estate and had initially claimed the £111million works would not interfere with the East Wing. He has insisted that he is partly funding the work personally, while private and corporate donors will cover the rest of the expenses.
Trump’s ballroom will have space for 1,000 people and is expected to be complete just in time for the end of Mr Trump’s second term as President of the United States of America in January 2029.
Shalom Baranes, the ballroom’s architect, said on Thursday that officials were considering a one-story addition to the West Wing to restore –symmetry” to the design. With critics saying Mr Trump’s extension will make the White House lopsided.
“The White House is therefore considering the idea of a modest, one story addition to the West Wing colonnade, which would serve to restore a sense of symmetry around the original central pavilion,” he said.
“It will be considered as part of a future overall planning framework, which will be presented at a future hearing.”
The NCPC, who has Mr Scharf as chairman, is responsible for approving construction and major renovations to government buildings in the Washington area. When explaining why the East Wing had been torn down, the White House said it was not economical to preserve the building due to water leakage and mould contamination.
“Because of this and other factors, the cost analysis proved that demolition and reconstruction provided the lowest total cost ownership and most effective long-term strategy,” Josh Fisher, director of the White House Office of Administration, said.
Mr Trump was given full Royal treatment when he made his second state visit to the UK in September. He was given a show, driven around Windsor Castle’s estate in the Irish State Coach, before inspecting an honour guard and watching a Red Arrows flypast.
Later on in the same evening, 160 guests, drawn from the worlds of politics and business, assembled in St George’s Hall for a full state banquet- whilst poor Charles is going to be forced into the outside should he need the loo.
