Edward Lengel, former chief historian for the White House Historical Association, speaks with Critical Support's Charles R. Davis and Shirin Sadeghi about Donald Trump's ballroom and why it's not just a story about corruption.

As Lengel explains, America's "founding fathers" did not want to mimic the pomp and excess of European monarchs. The White House was meant to be a modest residence, not a palace, signaling that no one person was above another.

The White House was also built by enslaved people. Why should we care if its desecrated? Because it's a symbol of democracy, Lengel argues, however flawed — and it's now being transformed into a playground for a king.

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