Donald Trump, in a striking display of historical mimicry, appears to channel a long-forgotten Imelda Marcos spirit—only 50 years too late.

In a move that could only be described as political makeovers meet nostalgia, the former president has decreed that Washington D.C. must be scrubbed of its unsightly blemishes. Graffitied walls are scheduled for a pristine repaint, homeless tents will vanish like last season’s trends, and potholes are slated for a fill job worthy of a high-budget renovation show.

It’s a curious echo of the famed Filipino First Lady who once ordered the repainting of the grassy borders around Manila’s Folk Arts Theater (which was built in 77 days in time for Manila’s hosting of the Miss Universe Pageant) and concealed informal settlements behind decorative fences along Roxas Boulevard.

Instead of embracing progress, Trump’s plan smacks of a desperate, belated attempt to transform the nation’s capital into a stage for international pageantry—ensuring that even world leaders are spared the sight of America’s unruly underbelly without delay.