Worker Injured at White House While Removing Scaffolding for Xi Jinping's Visit with Trump

A worker was rushed to the hospital on Labor Day amid a push to complete some of Trump's many White House renovations ahead of the state visit this month NEED TO KNOW A worker was injured on scaffolding at the White House and rushed to the hospital on Labor Day The emergency response came amid a push to complete some of President Donald Trump's many projects ahead of the state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping this month First responders climbed a ladder onto the scaffolding, lowered an unidentified man in a Stokes basket stretcher, and placed the worker into an ambulance A worker was injured and rushed to the hospital on Labor Day amid a push to complete some of President Donald Trump's many renovations to the White House ahead of the state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month. The renovations — and his anticipation of Xi's visit — have been a much-discussed topic for Trump for months now during public appearances and on social media. Scaffolding and construction equipment have become a constant presence at the White House during the second year of Trump's second term. On Monday, Sept. 7, a worker was injured on the scaffolding at the White House's North Portico, where crews in recent days began removing the large shrouds covering the northern entrance's tall, white columns as it underwent renovations, according to The Washington Post. The Post reported that local D.C. Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene on Monday afternoon for what emergency services dispatchers described as a "high-angle rescue." Photojournalists at the White House captured first responders climbing a ladder onto the scaffolding, lowering an unidentified man in a Stokes basket stretcher and placing the worker onto an ambulance. A spokesperson for the D.C. Fire and EMS Department said in a statement shared with PEOPLE that the injured worker was an "adult male construction worker" who suffered a "non-life threatening injury" and was taken to a nearby hospital. As Republicans are fighting to preserve their majorities in the House and the Senate, Trump has made construction projects across Washington, D.C., and renovations to the White House — including the pricey construction of his White House ballroom he insists is only criticized by those "disloyal to our country" — a top priority of his second term. Roughly 38% of Americans approve of Trump's overall job performance and 58% disapprove, according to The New York Times' average of public polling. A Reuters/Ipsos poll from late August found those numbers closer to 33% approve and 63% disapprove. In July, a Post/Ipsos poll found 65% of Americans said they were either "dissatisfied" or "upset" about Trump's D.C. construction projects, including the ballroom. Trump recently told a New York magazine reporter that the ballroom's design is inspired by the Palace of Versailles, but is going to be "more beautiful." The president told that reporter in late August that he agrees with Sen. Jon Ossoff's assessment of his motivations for the flurry of renovations and repairs. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Georgia Democrat and potential 2028 presidential contender said in the spring that Trump is "doing these things now, because no one will honor him when he's gone. Because he's a failed president and a national disgrace." Trump told New York, "Nobody will do it once I'm gone. When I leave here, nobody will." Other recent White House renovation projects overseen by Trump include new lighting for the White House bowling alley, a new White House helipad, the driveway repaved with California-mined white granite, a paved-over Rose Garden reimagined as a dinner club patio, and scores of gilded furniture and décor. Trump has openly discussed his desire to complete some of the projects in time for Xi's arrival in late September. "Our country is respected again. We're respected like never before. I go to meetings and everyone stands up. They didn't stand up for our last president; they didn't care about him," Trump said in a Rose Garden speech to Republican lawmakers on Sept. 2. "They laughed at him. But our country is respected again," Trump continued. "And when President Xi comes in two weeks, he respects America now. He didn't respect us. He laughed at us. He thought we were a bunch of fools." Read the original article on People