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White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - In-town pool report #4
POTUS walked down the driveway surrounding the South Lawn to stand in front of the active ballroom construction site, where dozens of workers in safety vests hammered, welded and moved materials.
POTUS spoke to the press for 45 minutes. The ballroom site is still open-air, and largely subterranean. The lowest portion of the construction site appeared to be approximately three stories deep.
The president highlighted the safety features of the new ballroom, including anti-drone and anti-missile defenses that would act as "a shield" to protect the White House campus.
A patch of concealer was visible on the president’s right hand as he spoke.
He spoke at length on the ongoing ballroom construction, Iran negotiations, Congressman Thomas Massie, the Texas Senate race and ongoing renovations of DC public spaces including the reflecting pool and Meridian Hill Park.
Highlights
Ballroom:
"The top of the ballroom is what they call a drone gallery, we have tremendous amounts of military able to be on the top," the president said.
"The roof is dead flat with absolutely nothing but strength on it. It's very strong steel, it's drone proof, and it's meant for our military to be able to stay on it," he said.
"This is all my money and donors' money. This is tax-free, and so everyone's talking about they're going to give money, they're going to give money the money they're going to give is really for the security of [the ballroom] and the whole White House premises."
On Congressional ballroom funds currently under consideration:
"Congress is approving money for security, but I put up the money to build this building, along with a lot of great patriots," the president said, "So I think they [Congress] want to enhance what you see here."
On restarting military action against Iran:
"I was an hour away yesterday we were going to be striking. It would have been happening right now. The boats, the ships are all loaded, they're loaded to the brim. We're all set to start," he said.
Iran/rising gas prices:
"I was in Iowa, and the stations had it at $1.85 but I was down to, in many cases, less than $2 a barrel a gallon. And then I said to myself, this is great, we just hit a new high in the stock market, everything's going good. I'm sorry, but we have to go down and take a little journey to do something. We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon. And this is peanuts, and I appreciate everybody putting up with it for a little while."
Cuba:
"Look, Cuba is calling us. They need help, but Cuba is a failed nation. Cuba needs help, and we'll do that. I am very prone toward the Cuban Americans. They've been incredible people, many of them have lost family members, they've been very badly hurt themselves, they've been in prison, they've come to this country, and they've been very successful," he said.
"I can do that, whether you change the regime or not. You know, it's been a rough regime. They've killed a lot of people, but it's a country that really needs help. Has nothing, they can't turn on the lights, they can't eat."
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