Is he a modern Marie Antoinette? Donald Trump is drawing fire for splurging on interior design while the government remains shut down. But some say there is method to his madness.
Trump’s gold ballroom divides America
Palatial plans: Dramatic images of the East Wing being reduced to rubble were the most visible sign so far of how Trump is seeking to remake the White House in his own style, almost a year after being re-elected as US president. Glossary
Hillary Clinton - An American Democrat politician, diplomat and former First Lady. She ran to be US president in 2016, but was beaten by Donald Trump.
Blue-collar - Relating to manual work or workers, particularly in industry.
Working-Class - The social group composed of people who primarily earn a wage or salary by working for others, often in manual or unskilled occupations.
Aesthetics - The branch of philosophy looking at the nature of beauty and taste.
White House - The official residence of the US president, in Washington DC. Burnt by British troops in 1814, it was rebuilt and painted white to hide the smoke stains.
Classical - An artistic and cultural movement based on the principles of ancient Greece and Rome.
Neoclassical - "New" classicism, or based on the influence of ancient Greek and Roman art and design.
Gilding - Covering in gold leaf.
Opulent - Conspicuously rich. It comes from the Latin word for "wealth".
Grotesque - A figure or face carved out of stone and fixed to the roof or walls of a building. They are similar to gargoyles, but gargoyles include a spout for water to drain through.
California - A large state on the west coast of the USA. It is the country's most populous state, with more than 37 million people. First settled by Native Americans as much as 13,000 years ago, the area was subsequently conquered by Spain, then was absorbed into Mexico, which was forced to hand it over to the USA in 1848.
Gavin Newsom - An American politician, and the governor of California. He belongs to the Democratic party.
Marie Antoinette - Queen of France from 1774 until her execution during the French Revolution in 1792.
Sociologist - Someone who studies human social behaviour. Modern sociology was developed by European thinkers in the 19th century, but it is also based on the writings of African American thinkers like W. E. B. DuBois.