Trump brags about the White House ballroom in his first post-election appearance

NBC News · CBS News, CBS News and The Independent report that President Donald Trump spent his first public appearance after the midterm rout at the site of the White House ballroom, where the East Wing once stood, rather than dwelling on Democrats winning both chambers of Congress. Speaking to construction workers as the final steel beam was readied, he called the project a structure unmatched anywhere in the world. CBS News adds that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum praised him as a builder, and that Trump described construction as relaxing. He signed the beam, writing "Love!" above his name between two gold presidential seals.

Election questions came only afterward. NBC News and CBS News say Trump called Vice President JD Vance's claim that the Iran war cost Republicans the election largely true, since gasoline prices rose, though he would act the same way again. The Independent quotes him saying he knew the war would hurt, but Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. NBC News notes he stayed out of the House Republican leadership race after Speaker Mike Johnson chose not to run again.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NBC News · CBS News, CBS News and The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at NBC News · CBS News → Also at CBS News → Also at The Independent →