President Donald Trump emerged from the White House private residence to showcase his ongoing construction projects, speaking at length about his personal initiatives in Washington, D.C., shortly after a difficult Election Night for Republicans.
"This is a special structure, it will be the most beautiful ballroom in the entire world," Trump stated, displaying a large piece of steel signed by workers as the final beam for construction. He emphasized his commitment to enhancing the capital, saying, "This is the capital of our country, we have to make it beautiful and we have to make it safe."
Trump described his newly constructed helipad at the White House as a "great thing of beauty," noting it is "drone-proof" and "bulletproof." He asserted it would be "the safest place in Washington" and capable of accommodating up to 2,500 guests, with underlying infrastructure for five floors. "This has been a dream for 150 years," he added, mentioning plans for over 100 drones for defense.
The president reflected on his legacy as a builder, highlighting the marble used, sourced from a special vein protected by its owner. "He liked me and also he was so honored to be doing it for the country and the White House," Trump said of the owner. He described the kitchen as being located beneath the ballroom, promising "top of the line" amenities. Trump also mentioned that the project was funded by multiple private donors, stating, "You got it free of charge, thank you very much."
He compared his project to the "Great Hall of China," where he had previously visited, and declared his own undertaking would be even grander, designed by "top of the line, great architects."
Following the tour of his construction projects, Trump addressed the election results. He acknowledged that "largely true" that the Iran war was a factor in Republican losses, but defended his decision to engage, stating, "I had no choice... you can't have Iran get a nuclear weapon."