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A bulletproof, heavy-duty door is being secretly installed at the main entrance to Donald Trump's White House as part of significant new security work, the Daily Mail can reveal.
The reinforced door is being fitted at the historic North Portico, the ceremonial front entrance where Trump greets visiting world leaders, White House sources said.
An illusion tarp was draped around the building's famous white-painted stone columns earlier this month as 'standard restoration' work got underway.
But the work is far more sensitive than publicly disclosed, including 'security enhancements and upgrades,' sources said.
The upgrade follows a run of threats against Trump in recent months, including the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in April.
The same security drive is also fast-tracking Trump's fortified new 90,000-square-foot ballroom fitted with sniper nests, an underground bunker and a drone port.
Sources Say Bullet-Proof Door Top Priority
But the bullet-proof door at the North Portico is top priority for the Secret Service and will be finished by mid-September, sources said.
The North Portico, built in 1830 under President Andrew Jackson, provides covered access to the White House Entrance Hall and is the official ceremonial greeting place for visiting heads of state.
Trump branded the front area 'horrible' and in a 'deplorable condition' after he was pictured examining its columns in May.
Trump ordered the renovations after noticing 'dings' and chipped plaster on the 200-year-old pillars which were last repainted during a comprehensive preservation project for the entire exterior of the White House that concluded in 1996.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum described Trump's eye for detail on a recent appearance on Katie Miller's podcast.
'President Trump comes out to greet a world leader, he sees door dings in the pillars and says, 'Look at all this stuff that needs to be repaired,'' Burgum explained. 'It's all historic renovation work.'
Security Upgrade Follows Recent Threats
Trump has considered proposals for a more ornate Corinthian style column to replace the Ionic columns at the North Portico, according to the Washington Post.
The President has promised the finished entrance will stand as a 'symbol of extraordinary beauty and pride.'
The ramped up security follows a series of targeted threats, including at the White House Correspondents Dinner and an alleged scheme uncovered just last month aimed directly at a UFC fight hosted on the White House South Lawn.
A gunman breached the White House perimeter and opened fire with a revolver in May. He was shot and killed by Secret Service and it was later revealed he had posted threats against Trump online.
The defense surge is just one piece of a sweeping physical transformation Trump has spearheaded across the executive grounds since returning to office.
Additional Upgrades Planned
Additional security upgrades currently in the pipeline include brand-new perimeter fencing around nearby Lafayette Park, situated on the north side of the estate.
Trump's signature aesthetic is also reshaping the mansion's decor.
Renovations already include custom gold cursive signage dotted around the grounds, newly planted trees and revamped walls, most recently in the Rose Garden.
Trump is also aiming to erect a multi-million-dollar monument inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The planning commission has granted initial approval.
The 250-foot arch would be built inside a major roundabout between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery if given the final green light.
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