Trump Delights At White House Ballroom Construction: 'Music To My Ears'

“When I hear that sound, it reminds me of money,” the president said from the Rose Garden, which he recently paved over.

President Donald Trump could barely conceal his delight about the demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make way for a huge ballroom similar to the one at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

The president purred about the construction project, which began in earnest this week, as he spoke from the Rose Garden patio ahead of a lunch with Senate Republicans on Tuesday. (Watch a clip at the end of the story.)

The White House’s current configuration means there is only a “cocktail area” that holds 88 people “if it’s tight,” Trump said, as he described the new event space as a “world-class ballroom.”

The president continued: “You probably hear the beautiful sound of construction to the back. You hear that sound? Oh, that’s music to my ears. I love that sound.”

“When I hear that sound, it reminds me of money,” added the former real estate developer. “In this case, it reminds me of lack of money because I’m paying for it, so it’s the opposite.”