Trump Goes 'Off Script' at State Dinner with Ballroom Invite
Trump went "off script" and invited guest of the dinner to walk into the construction site of the White House ballroom.
During the state dinner in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Donald Trump deviated from his prepared remarks and invited guests to explore the construction site of the White House ballroom. The ballroom project, currently under construction, has been the subject of legal disputes, with the Supreme Court recently ruling in favor of Trump, allowing the construction to proceed.
The White House maintains that the project is essential for security purposes and is funded through private donations, not taxpayer money.
Trump remarked, "If I could go off script just for just a second..." He invited everyone in the room to pass through the curtain at the back door, which is illuminated and nearing completion after a year of work. He emphasized that this would be the first time attendees would enter a construction site that is pristine and well-maintained.
The dinner took place following Trump and First Lady Melania Trump's rare welcome for Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday. The event and subsequent bilateral meetings occur against the backdrop of diplomatic tensions between the two nations concerning artificial intelligence, trade, and other policies. This story is evolving and will be updated with further details.
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