President Trump says being a builder is his second job : NPR

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos North America It's well-known that President Trump was a real-estate developer earlier than descending his golden escalator and coming into politics. And in his first time period, he did not actually flex these muscle groups. However since returning to the White Home, Trump has been on a transforming spree.

"I've two jobs," Trump mentioned just lately. Commander in chief is one, however his actual ardour seems to be the second. "I've a building job, which is absolutely like rest for me as a result of I've been doing all of it my life."

There are numerous methods Trump has shaken issues up in his first 12 months again in workplace, together with signing a whole lot of govt orders and launching a world commerce struggle. However one way or the other, he is additionally discovered the time to obsessively tweak decor and oversee a number of main renovations.

Throughout a current dinner speech meant to salute Kennedy Middle Honorees reminiscent of Gloria Gaynor and the band Kiss, Trump took a 9-minute detour to debate his numerous renovations. He recounted asking somebody whether or not he was a greater builder or politician.

"And so they did not know the best way to reply that query," Trump mentioned with fun. "I am unsure the best way to reply it both, if you wish to know the reality, however I really get nice rest out of fixing the White Home and fixing the Kennedy Middle."

He admitted this does take his time and a spotlight, however insisted he can match all of it in as a result of not like different folks, "I do not actually wish to relaxation."

New tasks <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3373x2248+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe5%2Fee%2Fb5785a194cd4b0438d9d99f857d6%2Fgettyimages-2252760638.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3373x2248+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe5%2Fee%2Fb5785a194cd4b0438d9d99f857d6%2Fgettyimages-2252760638.jpg" class="img" alt="An individual photographs the new sign outside of the “John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" now including "The Donald J. Trump" as seen on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. " loading="lazy"/> The brand new signal outdoors of the "John F. Kennedy Memorial Middle for the Performing Arts" now contains "The Donald J. Trump" as seen on December 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. Heather Diehl/Getty Photos North America conceal caption

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Heather Diehl/Getty Photos North America Since returning to workplace, Trump has bathed the Oval Workplace in gold, paved the Rose Backyard, added large flagpoles on the north and south garden, weighed in on a restoration undertaking on the Federal Reserve, changed tile within the Lincoln Toilet with marble, overseen a significant overhaul of the Kennedy Middle and even introduced Trump-style luxurious to a small passthrough on the White Home referred to as the Palm Room.

In an interview with Laura Ingraham of Fox Information, Trump defined that the outdated tile was low cost and damaged. He changed "lanterns that have been horrible" with new chandeliers, and introduced intense consideration to each little element.

"Should you have a look at the air conditioner vent, it is e-book matched. Take a look at it," Trump mentioned to Ingraham. "I can try this as a result of I do know that, , it is even obtainable that you can try this. Only a few folks can do it."

Trump and members of his administration typically confer with him as "a builder" and at a current rally in North Carolina, Trump described himself as having sturdy opinions concerning the form of the arms on chairs he put in his inns. "I'm a really aesthetic individual," he mentioned.

That was additionally Trump's rationalization for why he could be weighing in on the design of the brand new Navy battleships he was ordering up, the "Trump class."

Trump even took trip from a speech to the United Nations Normal Meeting earlier this 12 months to complain about way back shedding a contract to renovate the constructing.

"They'd large value overruns and spent between $2 and $4 billion on the constructing and didn't even get the marble flooring that I promised them," Trump mentioned. "You stroll on Terraza, do you discover that?"

Huge adjustments <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8054x5372+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F57%2F2c%2F2a00319244f6a4c426c6351dae4c%2Fgettyimages-2250795219.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8054x5372+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F57%2F2c%2F2a00319244f6a4c426c6351dae4c%2Fgettyimages-2250795219.jpg" class="img" alt="Demolition work continues where the East Wing once stood at the White House on December 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. " loading="lazy"/> Demolition work continues the place the East Wing as soon as stood on the White Home on December 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos North America conceal caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos North America Very similar to his expansive use of govt energy, Trump is not slowing down or asking permission. Take his ballroom undertaking. The complete East Wing of the White Home was torn down in October to make approach for it, whilst pictures of excavators tearing into the constructing sparked public outcry. What began out over the summer season as a $200 million undertaking funded by non-public donors has now ballooned.

"We're donating a constructing that is roughly $400 million," Trump shouted right into a microphone at a current Hanukkah celebration. "I ought to do it for much less. I'll do it for much less. However simply in case I say 400. In any other case, if I am going $3 over, the press will say it prices extra."

Many presidents have made small adjustments to personalize the White Home. A swimming pool right here, a basketball court docket there. The East Wing, West Wing and Truman balcony have been all additions and all controversial on the time, says Kate Andersen Brower, creator of The Residence concerning the workers who work on the White Home.

"That is essentially the most excessive, the most important footprint, essentially the most private addition," mentioned Brower.

Private, she says, as a result of it and all the opposite White Home adjustments are so unmistakably matched to Trump's private aesthetic.

"That is about folks 200 years from now figuring out that he's president," mentioned Brower. "And it'll be unimaginable to overlook that ballroom."

Trump has mentioned he has no plans to call the ballroom after himself.

However his title is now emblazoned on Kennedy Middle, a performing arts middle created by Congress as a memorial to the late President John F. Kennedy. A Democratic congresswoman who's an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Middle board filed a lawsuit difficult the renaming of the memorial, calling the motion "illegal" as a result of the unique title was assigned by Congress.

"It feels as if the president believes that that is his private portfolio and never the portfolio owned by the American folks," mentioned Rebecca Miller, govt director of the DC Preservation League. "The best way the administration has been shifting ahead signifies that they have no guardrails that they need to run up in opposition to."

She says Trump is making so many adjustments to so many historic locations so rapidly it's onerous to maintain up.

"President Trump is making the White Home stunning and giving it the glory it deserves for gratis to the taxpayer," mentioned Davis Ingle, a White Home spokesman. "Solely folks with a extreme case of Trump Derangement Syndrome would discover an issue with that."

Details about the ballroom undertaking is about to be offered to the Nationwide Capital Planning Fee subsequent month. Although it's now managed by the president's allies, which signifies that no matter Trump and his crew suggest is unlikely to satisfy a lot resistance.