Trump slams reporter as ‘third-rate’ after he questions his transparency over White House ballroom

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump sharply criticized a reporter who questioned him about the openness of his White House ballroom plans, labeling the journalist “third-rate.”

During a press briefing, Reuters reporter Jeff Mason questioned Trump about the project's transparency. Trump responded sharply, holding up a couple of images and said, “Third-rate reporters didn’t see it because they didn’t look." 

“You're a third-rate reporter,” he added, insisting that he has been “more transparent than anybody else.”

Why did Donald Trump label a reporter ‘third-rate’?

The press session turned testy on Wednesday, October 22, as Trump defended his ballroom plans following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The confrontation began when Reuters correspondent Mason asked how Trump would respond to claims that he had not been transparent about his plans. 

Previously, images of a backhoe breaking through the East Wing walls went viral, a building Trump had previously insisted would remain untouched during the privately funded construction.

After hearing Mason's question, Trump snapped, “I’ve shown this to everyone who would listen,” he said, holding up images of the proposed ballroom. He added, “Third-rate reporters didn’t see it because they didn’t look.”

Trump continued, defending the project, “These pictures have been in newspapers, they’ve been all over the place - and we’re very proud of it. It's gotten really great reviews. I think we've been more transparent than anybody ever been.”

Trump explains why he partially demolished White House East Wing

“In order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure,” he said, adding that he never “thought of it as being too much.” He noted that the second story of the East Wing, previously used as an office for the first lady, was “not particularly nice.”

Showing a photo of the partially demolished building, Trump said, “The way it’s shown, it looked like we were touching the White House. We don’t touch the White House.” He clarified that the new ballroom would be connected to the White House via a glass bridge.

Furthermore, Trump says his planned White House ballroom will now cost $300 million, up from $200 million.

Trump earlier emphasized respect for existing structures

On July 31, the White House unveiled plans for the new ballroom.

Speaking in support of the project, Trump said the ballroom “won’t interfere with the current building. It will be near it but not touching it. It pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of. It’s my favorite place. I love it.”

At exactly 22 minutes and 37 seconds into the White House video, Trump stated that the new project. 

On October 20, demolition crews began dismantling much of the White House’s East Wing, which houses offices for first lady Melania Trump and her staff, and serves as a main entrance for visitors. It was later revealed that the entire East Wing is slated for demolition.

The next day, October 21, the National Trust for Historic Preservation voiced its "great concern."

They said the proposed ballroom could "overwhelm the White House" and "disrupt its carefully balanced classical design."