New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, co-author of a forthcoming book with colleague Jonathan Swan, has offered insight into what she describes as President Donald Trump's consuming focus on remaking Washington, D.C. in his own image.

Speaking on Ezra Klein's podcast, Haberman said that if one were to map the 80-year-old president's mental priorities, the renovations would overwhelmingly dominate. "If you looked at a chart of his mind share, this I will say about getting into his mind: Seventy percent of it would be on his renovations," Haberman said, as reported by The Daily Beast on Friday.

When Haberman and Swan interviewed Trump in March for fact-checking purposes, the president devoted much of the conversation to his building plans. At the time, the war in Iran had recently begun.

"It's Day 17 of the war, and he's telling us: Here's my models of the ballroom — and so forth. It was like he didn't have a care in the world," Haberman recalled. When asked whether the war or any other policy commanded as much of Trump's attention, she answered frankly: "no."

Trump has what amounts to an unlimited budget to execute his renovation demands with minimal approval oversight. The projects mark a sharp departure from the multi-agency review process that has governed changes to the capital's monumental core for over a century, with bodies such as the Commission of Fine Arts, established in 1910, and the National Capital Planning Commission historically vetting proposed alterations to Washington's federal architecture and public spaces. His push to demolish and rebuild the White House East Wing began with a pledge to "fundraise" for a 9,000-square-foot structure that would include a ballroom. He has since asked Congress to fund the project, framing it as a "national security" necessity.

The costs of Trump's projects have escalated sharply in both scale and price. The Reflecting Pool renovation, which Trump said would require only about $1.5 million for a special lining, has now cost over $16 million, according to an NBC News analysis.

The White House East Wing ballroom was initially projected at $200 million, with Trump promising donor funding rather than taxpayer expense. The cost has since surged past $600 million, with less than half — $293 million — coming from private donors. GOP lawmakers have proposed allocating $1 billion in public funds for the project.

Trump also ordered that two large bronze equestrian statues at the east entrance of Memorial Bridge be coated in a thick layer of pure gold. The statues, part of the "Arts of War" and "Arts of Peace" sculptural groups designed by James Earle Fraser and installed in 1951, originally Art Deco-style bronze casts that had developed a patina over the years, have drawn criticism as "gaudy" and "way too shiny." The initial estimated cost of $2.4 million has since doubled to $5.1 million, and overage costs may still accrue, according to USA Today.

Maryland resident Carlos Burger, speaking to the BBC, offered a measured take: "I think from a tourist perspective, sure?" — pausing to add, "Question mark."

Another planned project is a 250-foot arch that would obstruct the view of Arlington National Cemetery, which sits on a hill overlooking Washington. Modeled after Paris' Arc de Triomphe — which commemorates those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary War — the structure has already been dubbed the "Arc de Trump." Its projected cost starts at $100 million in taxpayer funds.

Additionally, Trump has initiated a renovation of Dulles International Airport projected to cost at least $22 billion, featuring a gold ceiling. The airport, designed by architect Eero Saarinen and opened in 1962, is the primary international gateway to the Washington metropolitan area.