Donald Trump has joked about leaving office in ‘eight or nine years’ so he can use his new ballroom.
Speaking at a small business summit, the leader said: ‘When I get out of office in, let’s say, eight or nine years from now, I’ll be able to use it. I’ll be able to use it myself,’ referencing his ballroom.
It’s not the first time Trump has issued what seems to be a direct threat to the 22nd Amendment, which states that no person can be elected as President more than twice.
In a phone call with NBC News last spring, he said, ‘I am not joking,’ when asked to clarify a remark on seeking another term, adding: ‘There are methods which you could do it.’
His ‘joke’ comes as a European steel company has gifted 600 tons of steel to help build Donald Trump’s ballroom in Washington DC.
ArcelorMittal, a Luxembourg steelmaker, confirmed it donated the materials to help construct the historic ballroom.
Chief financial officer Genuino Christino said: ‘As you know, we have a track record of both supplying strong, high-quality steels to U.S. customers and donating steel to iconic buildings and projects around the world that showcase its strength and flexibility.
‘We are pleased to add the White House to the list of iconic American buildings where our steel will stand strong for years to come.’
The donation is likely to anger American companies, which Trump said he would support as he moved to impose tariffs on other countries.
Still, the President has pushed to build his historic ballroom, even citing the need for it after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ dinner.
‘What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE’, he wrote.
And, of course, the MAGA machine revved into full gear – and full unison.
Disgraced former mayor and disbarred lawyer Rudy Giuliani urged the ‘haters’ to support the ballroom; far-right political activist and conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec declared himself grateful Trump was building one.
A Florida congressman announced a ‘Build the Ballroom Act’. Colorado representative Lauren Boebert said she was drafting legislation.
The $400,000,000 project began in October after the shock destruction of the historic East Wing.
Trump wrote of the ballroom’s construction on Truth Social, saying: ‘All I am doing is fixing, cleaning, running, and ‘sprucing up’ a terribly maintained, for many years, Building.’
Trump explained there would be a ‘drone-proof roof’, as well as ‘air-handling systems’ and ‘biodefense all over’.
He also said the ballroom was needed to host large events for world leaders and other guests, and that a ballroom tent was not sufficient because of how wet the grass gets.
Last month, it was revealed that Trump is hoping to replace the White House Ionic columns with Corinthian ones – his latest bid to transform the home into more of a Trump-esque ‘palace’.
Trump also placed gold gilded accents in the Oval Office, including new, heavy gold font signs similar to those in Mar-a-Lago.
The Trump-appointed head of the federal arts commission has proposed replacing the four columns with the Corinthian style, which is on the US Capitol and Supreme Court buildings.
Discover more from USNewsRank
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.