U.S. Embassy in London blasted by Trump is a 'fortress' with moat
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Despite it being described as a diplomatic “fortress” and boasting a moat, President Trump thinks that the shiny new U.S. Embassy in London is rubbish.
The commander-in-chief blasted the process that brought the building to be on the River Thames, saying in a tweet that its $1 billion price tag and new neighborhood are the reason he is not heading to the UK for a long-planned visit.
“I am not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for ‘peanuts,’ only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars. Bad deal. Wanted me to cut ribbon-NO!” he said.
Many suspected that the real reason behind Trump's visit cancellation was the widespread opposition he would face in Britain, where leaders such as London Mayor Sadiq Khan have responded to some of his more outrageous Twitter moments. Sadiq responded to the President's reposting of anti-Muslim videos from a far-right UK group by saying the invitation should be rescinded.
U.S. operations in London have been based in the Big Smoke’s tony Mayfair neighborhood for more than 200 years, and have been headquartered at the modernist complex designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen since the 1950s.
A ballooning staff meant that 1,000 people were working in a space designed for hundreds less, and concerns that the structure had terrorism risks started the process to seek a bigger, more secure space.
Despite Trump’s tweet blaming Obama, the decision to move and choice of new location was actually made during the Bush administration.
The new embassy, in a former industrial area being rapidly redeveloped, has drawn the most attention for having a moat, said to be the first constructed in the British capital since the Middle Ages.
State Department releases of the new glass cube have also praised its energy self-sufficiency and miniscule carbon footprint.
But Trump’s anger at the embassy allows him to deflect attention to the controversy that the move has faced for years.
It was not immediately clear what Trump found so “off” about the new location that he could not even be in the same country as it.
Some in Britain turned up their noses at the idea of having the diplomatic post move from one of the city's most expensive neighborhoods to an area less connected and less glamorous.
“It’s like moving from New York’s Upper East Side to New Jersey,” former City of London planner Peter Rees told the New York Times in 2015.
Different British writers have been divided on the building, which will soon be surrounded by 15 billion pounds ($20 billion) of development including luxury apartments, with some calling it “tasteful” or “stunning” but others labelling it “clunky” compared to the elegance of the previous spot.
Trump’s other appraisal of the real estate, that it was a “bad deal” also glossed over a more complicated reality.
The building is finishing up several months behind schedule, is the world’s most expensive embassy, and was also the subject of criticism from Republicans who questioned the Obama administration spending extra money for more advanced architecture.
Former Jets owner and U.S. Ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson, appointed by Trump, called the new embassy a “bargain” last month, and contrasted it with MetLife Stadium.
The project also received an influx of cash from the sale of the old embassy to a Qatari investment fund in 2009, with the reported price of 500 million pounds, or about $800 million.
It is now being converted into a high-end hotel.
Another building at Grosvenor Square, the U.S. Navy Annex, was sold for 250 million pounds in 2007.
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What a shithole. /s
Just another day in the US, with Trump using the most obvious lies he can muster up to avoid reality. My favorite line:
Despite Trump’s tweet blaming Obama, the decision to move and choice of new location was actually made during the Bush administration.
"It was not immediately clear what Trump found so “off” about the new location that he could not even be in the same country as it."
Remember the NATO Monument !
Should be the new "Remember the Maine" cry !
It's really not hard figuring out what Trump is talking about when it comes to the rest of the world and this monument crap.
" Despite Trump’s tweet blaming Obama, the decision to move and choice of new location was actually made during the Bush administration."
And Mr. Obama just couldn't say NO for 8 YEARS ?
Hell....there are millions of dollars of commercials telling us WE need to say NO......pretty much every day. How come it's only WE that has to say NO ?
Can't upset others around the world ?
And Mr. Obama just couldn't say NO for 8 YEARS ?
Well, Obama had a brain.
A ballooning staff meant that 1,000 people were working in a space designed for hundreds less, and concerns that the structure had terrorism risks started the process to seek a bigger, more secure space.
I can just imagine your sheer outrage if Obama would have changed course and kept them in an unsecure location without enough room.
He must have left it at home every day.
"A ballooning staff"
There's your government sign.
"ALWAYS NEEDING MORE" !
Trump sent his out to be dry cleaned and lost the claim ticket.
Snork...........
This is fun - can we keep pretending you know what you're talking about? With your vast knowledge of international affairs, perhaps Trump will hire you to go there and clean house.
And you were taught.....where again?
MSNBC University ?
CNN Community College ?
NBC State College ?
Since your so SCHMART.......what has Trump said about government over spending in outreach before and after he took office.
Did you even listen to his Speech to NATO when they Christened that monument to themselves ?
Are you in your bomb shelter since Trump got Tax Cuts approved ?
I was born with the intuitive ability to not jump to the conclusion that just because an operation has many employees does not mean that they are bloated and inefficient. You were obviously born with the trait of reflexive attacking of anything that doesn't fit your narrative, no matter how stupid and uninformed the attack is.
You were BORN....then you were taught how and what to think !
Some have the ability to actually see a problem after they grow up. Are you one of those, or just going by what you were actually born with.