In an entertainment scenario only this administration could deliver, the news carried a sight many would never expect: a man, not just any man, but the President himself, found atop the White House. Yes, it seems like President Trump decided to conduct a personal inspection or maybe even some DIY construction on top of the nation’s most significant house. One can only wonder what may have propelled him skyward. Perhaps a desire for a bird’s eye view of Washington or to check if the White House roof slopes just the right way to accommodate his architectural ambitions? In either case, the scene offered more drama than a soap opera, with less coherence than a daytime talk show.
President Trump, often fond of reminding the world that he runs a tight financial ship, was quick to point out that whatever he was building up there was financed by none other than himself. This, of course, includes his personal salary, which he generously donates, though under-appreciated by his critics. It almost makes you wonder if he might be planning to affix a billboard declaring “Self-Financed Renovations Above” just to drive the point home. For those who assumed that presidential renovations were a line item in the federal budget, Trump’s ceiling adventures were a reminder that he likes to keep things under his monetary control—or at least under his roof.
One can’t help but chuckle at the thought of “Builder Trump” roaming around up there, tape measure in hand, presumably sizing up the possibilities for a lavish ballroom or an extravagant terrace. And let’s be honest, if such a glorious venue were to be erected, one has to think he might never want to leave. After all, who would when you have the power to tell guests you built it yourself, with possibly an addendum dissolving any sarcasm with: “Oh, and I funded it too”? Yes, it’s Mr. Trump’s big, beautiful vision, unfolding level by level, or perhaps story by story—both in structure and in the media narrative.
But while on top of conducting Presidential Office affairs on the White House itself, Trump fans were treated to another signature claim: he proudly asserted he received the highest number of votes in Texas history. As fact-checkers rushed to verify this statement, it wasn’t surprising that it found the mark of truth, but it does beg a question. What other fun facts might emerge during these unexpected appearances? Perhaps more records to unknowingly dazzle his critics or perhaps just more claims you wouldn’t believe unless fact-checked live on television.
Oh, and the icing on this cake comes not just from the height of the claim, or the man standing on America’s most famous residence but, of course, the cryptic hint about a possible return to politics. For now, we’ll have to keep our eyes both on him and on the White House roofline. History tells us that with Trump, the only certainty here is to expect the utterly unexpected, with a hefty dose of flair and a healthy regard for his unwaverable financial footing.
