Donald Trump is pushing to build new permanent security fencing around the White House after reportedly being warned of an Iranian assassination threat. The US president's administration has unveiled plans to replace temporary barriers around Lafayette Square with a permanent fence between eight and nine feet high, alongside additional security measures outside the White House.
Threat Prompts Security Overhaul
The move comes after Trump said Israel had shared intelligence suggesting Iran was plotting to assassinate him, following heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. According to The Washington Post, the plans would also allow security officials to seal off parts of Pennsylvania Avenue and restrict pedestrian access outside the White House if they identify a potential threat.
Officials Cite Long-Term Security
Officials insist the proposals are aimed at improving long-term security while keeping public access to the historic area. The plans will be considered by the US Commission of Fine Arts next week.
Backlash Over Public Access
However, the measures have already sparked backlash from politicians and campaigners, who fear they could limit public access and the right to protest. Washington DC's non-voting congressional representative Eleanor Holmes Norton said she would introduce legislation to block the plans. She said: "More fencing around the president's park would send the wrong message to the nation and the world by continuing to transform our democracy from one that is accessible and of the people to one that is exclusive and fearful of its own citizens."
Campaigners also warned the proposals could undermine demonstrations outside the White House. The Washington Post reported that discussions about permanently fencing off Lafayette Square first took place during Trump's first term after protests erupted following the death of George Floyd in 2020, when Trump was briefly taken to the White House bunker as a precaution.
Additional Security Measures
The latest proposals also include resurfacing parts of Lafayette Square after officials warned existing paving stones could be removed and used as projectiles during periods of civil unrest.
