President Donald Trump on Wednesday took on the role of White House tour guide, showcasing ongoing construction projects including a new helipad and a ballroom. He lauded the materials and engineering, particularly the granite being used for the helipad, predicting its lasting durability.
Trump described the helipad, which is under construction on the South Lawn, as a feature that would impress visiting foreign leaders. He detailed the use of granite over asphalt, emphasizing its strength and resistance to damage. "That's stone that, if you took a hammer and you started hammering right now — all day long — you wouldn't see a mark on it, literally, that's the kind of power it is," Trump told reporters.
He also revealed that the walkway from the White House's diplomatic entrance and a portion of the asphalt driveway around the South Lawn have been replaced with white granite. Trump, who has often expressed pride in his building background, stated, "One thing I know how to do is build," and asserted that asphalt was "not appropriate for a great house, or a great place like the White House."
The president has frequently used opportunities to show off his building endeavors, often with the White House press pool present. Last year, he surveyed a future work site from the briefing room roof, and earlier this summer, he gave reporters a closer look at the ballroom construction.
Trump emphasized the importance he places on these projects, calling the work "very exciting" and suggesting they will endure long after his administration. "This will be here long after we’re gone," he said. "No matter what happens with the world."
The planned $400 million ballroom is described by Trump as an enhancement to White House security, incorporating features such as anti-drone technology. His administration had previously sought $1 billion in congressional funding for military improvements to the structure.
During the tour, Trump signed a piece of the granite helipad stone, which was marked "Donald Trump 45-47 president" and shaped like an eagle, intended for the presidential seal. He also had construction workers sign the stone. The president confirmed that work on the helipad had been temporarily delayed for regrading to ensure it lay flatter. He predicted the granite would have a "million-year life" and "will never break. It will never leak. It will never do anything."