Donald Trump just gave reporters a personal tour of his biggest White House flex yet. The president showed off ongoing construction projects and shared his excitement about a major deadline.
Donald Trump showcases new helipad and projects during White House appearance
Donald Trump showcased his new White House helipad and other construction projects during a Wednesday morning tour. The Washington Post reported that he spent 30 minutes walking reporters through the South Lawn construction site. Workers have been building the 100-foot-wide helipad around the clock to meet a tight deadline.
The president signed the underside of a granite slab shaped like an eagle’s head during the visit. He told reporters that pilots strongly preferred landing on the helipad over other alternatives available to them. “The happiest people are the pilots,” Trump said while discussing the project with the gathered press corps.
Construction crews are rushing to finish the helipad before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned White House visit. Trump appeared pleased when workers confirmed a September 21 completion date for the ambitious project. “We might make it for President Xi,” he said. “That’d be nice but not imperative.”
Trump also acknowledged ordering last-minute design changes to address the helipad’s slope during construction. “Sorry to take an extra week and a half, but lifting it up was one of the best things we’ve ever done,” he said. He added that the helipad would serve a secondary purpose for hosting events and greeting foreign leaders.
The president then turned attention to his other ongoing White House renovation projects during the appearance. He thanked ScottsMiracle-Gro for donating new sod and pointed out fresh topsoil across the lawn. “Grass has a life like humans have a life,” Trump said. “If you’re grass, you’re very happy.”
Trump also expressed frustration over legal challenges to his planned 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom addition. The Supreme Court currently weighs whether to temporarily halt that construction beginning Friday. Many architects have complained that the addition will overshadow the existing White House mansion entirely.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.
