A sinkhole appeared on the White House front lawn on Monday and, much to the internet’s amusement, it appears to be growing.
The collapse, which occurred near the press briefing room, was roped off by groundskeepers. It was first noticed this week by Voice of America reporter Steve Herman who tweeted a picture and an update that a second sinkhole is opening up right next to the first one.
This week I’ve been observing a sinkhole on the @WhiteHouse North Lawn, just outside the press briefing room, growing larger by the day. pic.twitter.com/BsFUtxFqpB
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) May 22, 2018
Washington D.C. is, of course, built on swampland. More than just a useful satirical device, however, it means that large areas within the city are susceptible to what is known geologically as a “forebulge collapse”. Researchers believe the entire city will sink six or more inches within the next century.
For Twitter users, on the political left and right alike, the sinkhole was too perfect a metaphor to pass up.
Given President Donald Trump’s loathing for the “corrupt” mainstream media, some pointed to the sinkhole’s proximity to the press briefing room.
It's not like a growing sinkhole right outside the press briefing room at the White House has any existential meaning to it at all, right?
— Jeff Urbanchuk (@jurbanchuk) May 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/Random_acct/status/998971983462268928
For others, however, it was quite simply a metaphor for the Trump administration.
An actual, literal sinkhole has opened on the White House lawn outside the briefing room on the north side. Even the earth is trolling Trump and I'm here for it
— NastyWomenofNPS (@NastyWomenofNPS) May 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/wireman651/status/998961658096705536
https://twitter.com/MountainMommy3/status/998962035432898560
As for the sinkhole, it’s just excited to be here.
I’m so excited to be part of this administration and I’d like to suck in as many people as I can. Where should I start? #sinkholes
— MuffinPants (@HouseSinkhole) May 22, 2018
And it has big dreams…
Famous #sinkholes in history. I aspire to be like these sinkholes someday. @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/9a7Pt4cGL9
— MuffinPants (@HouseSinkhole) May 22, 2018