Karoline Leavitt Brings Receipts As Reporter Tries To Stump Her On Construction At White House

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt presented several photographs of past construction at the White House on Thursday as a reporter attempted to grill her on the temporary demolition of the East Wing.

While the White House has come under scrutiny over the ballroom construction, CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang suggested that President Donald Trump believes he can “tear down whatever he wants” without oversight at the White House. Leavitt pointed to several instances throughout history when the White House had been under construction, including when the West Wing was built in 1902 and renovations to the interior in 1950.

“So it sounds like the answer is yes, he can tear down whatever he wants,” Jiang said.

“I mean, that’s not what we’re saying. That’s a legal opinion that’s been held for many years,” Leavitt said. “No, it’s something that presidents have done for years and years. In fact, I have some photos here to show you the construction that’s taken place on the White House grounds. This is the construction of the West Wing in 1902. Look at this, the construction of the West Terrace in 1902. These images look quite similar to what you and the American people are seeing today. The construction of the East Terrace as well.”

“Look at the construction of the West Wing expansion in 1934. So look, this is a legal opinion that’s been held for many years. Look, this is 1950,” Leavitt continued.

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After viewing the photographs, Jiang continued pressing Leavitt on whether Trump can tear down whatever he wants.

“What do you think that rubble is? How did that rubble get there?” Leavitt said, pointing to a photo of the construction from 1950.