Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
Trump Administration Addresses Shower Head Water Pressure Regulations
Amidst fluctuating global economic conditions and ongoing debates over tariff policies, President Trump has signed an executive order focused on what he described as a pressing domestic issue: insufficient shower head pressure. This move comes as the administration aims to reduce regulatory burdens and streamline governmental processes.
Executive Order Reverses Water Conservation Measures
The recently issued directive is explicitly intended to curtail bureaucratic obstacles and excessive regulation. It effectively reverses existing limitations on the volume of water flow permitted per minute from shower nozzles. These restrictions were initially put in place by the Obama and Biden administrations as part of broader water conservation initiatives.
During the signing ceremony, President Trump articulated a personal concern, stating that inadequate water pressure negatively impacts his ability to effectively wash his hair.
President Trump’s Personal Anecdote on Water Pressure
“In my own experience, I value a satisfying shower to properly maintain my hair,” President Trump remarked to reporters in the Oval Office. “Currently, I must remain under the shower spray for an extended duration, approximately 15 minutes, merely to get wet. The water flow is minimal, just a drip, drip, drip. It’s truly unsatisfactory.”
Echoes of Fictional Presidential Preferences in Netflix Series
Concerns regarding weak shower pressure are not new for President Trump. However, this situation bears a striking resemblance to a plot point in Netflix’s new comedic mystery series, “The Residence.” In the show, the fictional President Perry Morgan, portrayed by Paul Fitzgerald, expresses a similar frustration. A White House staff member explains that President Morgan demands “pressure akin to a fire hose.”
The series depicts White House personnel attempting to resolve the President’s water pressure demands, only to be met with his vocal disapproval. In one scene, after an adjustment, President Morgan laments, “A rumor of a mist.” The show even escalates the situation to involve NASA for a solution.
“The Residence,” a Shondaland production featuring Uzo Aduba, Giancarlo Esposito, and Randall Park, centers around a murder mystery during a White House state dinner. The sprawling whodunit unfolds within the presidential mansion, incorporating historical and architectural details drawn from Kate Andersen Brower’s non-fiction work, “The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House.” Upon its recent release, the series quickly ascended into Netflix’s top-10 most-watched programs.
This peculiar water pressure storyline in the show proved unexpectedly timely. Paul William Davies, the writer and producer of “The Residence,” found the real-life parallels “thoroughly amusing” in a recent discussion.
Fact vs. Fiction in “The Residence” – An Interview with the Writer
Show’s Blend of White House Reality and Narrative License
This series effectively utilizes the White House’s numerous rooms, clandestine passages, and unique personnel specifics. To what extent is the show grounded in factual elements versus imaginative storytelling?
“Clearly, the central narrative element—a homicide within the White House—is entirely fictional. However, my approach was to integrate, wherever feasible, inspiration from actual events that I found particularly compelling. I incorporated considerable material from Kate Brower’s book—anecdotes, specific interpersonal dynamics, and various incidents. I also drew upon supplementary research beyond the book. Consequently, numerous elements within the show may surprise viewers with their basis in genuine White House history.”
The Shower Scene’s Historical Basis
Is the shower scene, therefore, rooted in historical fact?
“Yes, it is. It’s inspired by President Johnson’s documented preoccupation with his shower—specifically both water pressure and temperature. Upon assuming office in the White House following President Kennedy’s assassination, he immediately became fixated on the inadequate water pressure. According to Kate Brower’s account, it became such a concern that he reportedly threatened to vacate the White House and return to his Washington residence. Addressing the plumbing to meet his demands, described as desiring pressure akin to a ‘fire hose,’ became a multi-year endeavor.”
“One White House plumber even engaged external experts, including personnel from the Park Service and other federal entities, to explore solutions for enhancing water pressure. They also dispatched individuals from the White House to examine plumbing systems in other buildings frequented by President Johnson, seeking comparable setups.”
Personal Inquiry into White House Water Pressure
Have you personally assessed the water pressure within the White House?
“No, I have not.”
Shower Pressure: A Universally Relatable Presidential Quirk
There’s an inherently personal and relatable aspect to shower water pressure. It’s a detail that underscores the common humanity of presidents, reminding us, ‘Oh, presidents, they’re just like us.’
Relatability of Presidential Domestic Concerns
“Precisely. It highlights that the White House is ultimately the president’s home. It’s a historic structure, replete with its idiosyncrasies, and water pressure is undoubtedly one of them. As you noted, it’s remarkably relatable because, at its core, it’s where an individual resides, wakes up, retires for the night, and performs everyday routines like all of us in our own homes.”
Writer’s Reaction to Life Imitating Art
What was your reaction upon observing this instance of life mirroring art in this manner?
“It amused me greatly, as I hadn’t anticipated the water pressure issue resurfacing. Interestingly, there are a couple of other elements in the show. A scene involving two senators discussing the potential acquisition of Greenland and the elimination of the Department of Education. Both notions have notably emerged in public discourse recently. Many individuals have approached me inquiring, ‘When did you actually write this?’”
“However, the shower scenario particularly surprised me, as it seemed such a distinct preoccupation of President Johnson’s that I didn’t expect to hear of it again.”
Timing of Prescient Policy References
When did you incorporate those references to Greenland and the Department of Education into the script?
“Several years ago.”
Clairvoyance or Coincidence?
Wait—are you exhibiting clairvoyant abilities?
“Well, there’s a third element within that speech concerning fracking beneath San Francisco—that’s the only one yet to materialize. I haven’t encountered any developments regarding that.”
Writer’s Home Water Pressure Experience
Switching to a more personal note, what is the water pressure situation at your residence?
“It’s actually quite poor, genuinely subpar, and I do appreciate a robust shower. I don’t believe I could endure pressure akin to President Johnson’s, but something moderately stronger than my current domestic situation would be preferable.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for improved clarity and conciseness.