Trump touts White House ballroom after Republican midterm losses

President Donald Trump marked a construction milestone at his White House ballroom Wednesday in his first public appearance since Republicans lost control of both houses of Congress in the midterm elections. He spoke at length about the building, addressing his party’s defeat only when reporters asked.

Standing among construction workers and reporters at the unfinished site, Trump watched preparations to lift the final steel beam into place. He signed the beam, which bore two gold presidential seals. CBS News reported that he wrote “Love!” above his signature, alongside the names of workers on the project.

“This is a special structure,” Trump said. “It’s going to be not only one of the biggest, but it’ll be the most beautiful ballroom I think anywhere in the world.” He praised the quality and security of the construction and said presidents had wanted a large event space for decades. He also called the ballroom and a nearby helipad a “thing of beauty.”

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum called Trump “our builder-in-chief, the greatest builder that has ever been president of the United States.” Burgum described the occasion as “a day of celebration and a day of gratitude.” Workers later raised the beam into place, and Trump spent several minutes shaking hands and signing memorabilia, CBS News reported.

The ceremony came after an election in which Democrats regained both chambers of Congress and won races in longtime Republican strongholds including Texas, according to NBC News. Asked about Vice President JD Vance’s statement blaming the war on Iran for Republican losses, Trump said it was “largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit short-term.”

“At the same time, if I had it to do again, I’d have to do it again because long term it’s the only answer,” Trump said. “You can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump said he expected he could work with the new Democratic majorities unless they wanted to be “destructive,” adding, “I have the power of the veto.” He said Democrats had already called and wanted to talk. Asked about the contest to replace House Speaker Mike Johnson as Republican leader, Trump said, “We’ll stay out of it,” and said he had not asked Johnson to step down, NBC News reported.

The president also rejected suggestions that he might replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying Hegseth had done a “very good job.” CBS News reported earlier Wednesday that Trump had asked advisers whether Hegseth should leave the post.

Asked why he devoted time to construction projects, Trump said he loved construction and found it “relaxing.” He said he wanted the White House to be “pristine” because it is “the ultimate symbol of America.”

Trump announced the ballroom in July 2025, NBC News reported. The outlet said the project had faced legal obstacles, but the Supreme Court ruled in late August that construction could proceed indefinitely.