Trump tours White House ballroom after Republicans’ midterm rout
What’s new: In his first public appearance after the losses, Trump focused on marble, steel and renovations rather than the election fallout.
President Donald Trump used his first public event after Republicans’ heavy midterm losses to showcase the White House ballroom under construction, steering attention to marble, steel beams and other renovation details instead of the election setback. At the Nov. 4 event in Washington, Trump walked reporters through the site with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, calling the materials “beautiful” and praising a marble vein he said had been hard to obtain. He also fielded questions, saying he did not regret going to war with Iran and would keep Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The appearance came a day after Democrats’ strong showing in the midterms and underscored Trump’s focus on signature building projects even as Republicans reeled from defeat.