Trump pauses oil exec meeting to admire White House ballroom construction: 'What a view'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump always finds a way to keep the spotlight on him. Whether he is making decisions about his administration, running the country or delivering jokes and sharp humor, he knows how to hold attention. 

That same flair was on display during a meeting with oil executives on Friday, January 9.

At one point, he paused the discussion and asked everyone to take a moment to admire the lavish ballroom he had renovated. He admitted it was an ‘unusual’ moment to appreciate the setting, but said he could not resist. In the process, he also took a subtle swipe at the ‘fake’ media.

Trump pauses during oil executives' meeting to admire his ballroom

During a meeting with top oil executives about the future of Venezuelan oil, Trump tried to keep the mood light. In a video that’s quickly going viral, he looks at the camera and gestures with his finger, saying, “I gotta look at this myself.” He then walks toward the ballroom door, pauses, and adds, “Wow. What a view! This is the door to the ballroom.”

Trump stayed there for a moment, clearly enjoying the view, before turning back to the group. “Unusual time to look! But I figured we might as well,” he said, giving everyone a small laugh. The pause also gave him a chance to make a subtle jab at the media: “If the fake news wants to go back, take a look, you can!”

He then returned to the business at hand, highlighting the progress of the renovation: “A big foundation is moving, we are ahead of schedule, and it is under budget.” Even in the middle of a serious discussion about oil, Trump’s attention to detail and his flair for the dramatic made the moment memorable.

Trump’s $400 million ballroom project mirrors White House height

Trump is moving ahead with plans for a $400 million ballroom that is designed to be as tall as the original White House. The project’s lead architect, Shalom Baranes, shared the details on Thursday, January 8, during a presentation to the National Capital Planning Commission.

“The heights will match exactly,” said Baranes, speaking about the 1,000-person ballroom, which will feature ceilings around 40 feet high. The ballroom itself is planned to cover roughly 22,000 square feet and will be part of an expanded East Wing.

The ambitious project also includes new offices for the first lady, a rebuilt White House movie theater, a commercial kitchen, streamlined entrances, and a two-story colonnade connecting back to the main house.

Baranes explained that the design is intended to reduce the “ongoing operational stress” on the White House grounds. He also mentioned discussions about a possible “modest, one-story addition to the West Wing colonnade,” which would help restore a sense of balance and symmetry to the overall layout.