WH in-town pool report #10/ POTUS speaking at Rose Garden lunch
From: David Smith
Sent: Monday, July 6, 2026 12:23 PM
To: DL WHO Wranglers
Subject: WH in-town pool report #10/ POTUS speaking at Rose Garden lunch
POTUS defended his White House ballroom plans. “We had King Charles here. Everybody wanted to be here. We couldn’t hold everybody.
“… It’s also able to hold the inauguration…. Bullet proof, drone proof, missile proof in many cases.”
He noted that President Xi is coming before the end of September. “What we need is a big ballroom that can hold thousands of people.” He noted that China has one.
POTUS rejected criticism that he is building the ballroom for himself. “I’ll be lucky if I get six months because it will be done towards the middle of ‘28. I’m really building it for other presidents.”
POTUS then began taking about the Trump Accounts and thanked Senator Ted Cruz. He spoke of the “hottest stock market in history”. He praised the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq for coming together.
POTUS touted his record reducing crime and said 91% of crime in Washington DC was caused by 2.1% of the population but now the city is safe with restaurants flourishing. “Crimes of passion we can’t do much about. Just one of those things.”
POTUS said: “I just wish that I’d get a call from the governor of Illinois, as an example, or the mayor Chicago” saying they need help. “I would sort it out so fast.” He added: “I wish Governor Newsom would call me.”
POTUS said: “We now have a country based on merit. That goes for colleges… And you get into the military on merit… We have strong soldiers… It’s all based on merit.”
“We grew based on merit. We didn’t grow based on you’ve got to have x, x, x and x.”
POTUS attacked the Democrats, remarking: “Social Democrat is a communist… There’s no appetite for it.”
POTUS praised Nicki Minaj, who stood and received applause, then returned to the subject of Trump Accounts.
Speech is ongoing.
Sent: Monday, July 6, 2026 12:23 PM
To: DL WHO Wranglers
Subject: WH in-town pool report #10/ POTUS speaking at Rose Garden lunch
POTUS defended his White House ballroom plans. “We had King Charles here. Everybody wanted to be here. We couldn’t hold everybody.
“… It’s also able to hold the inauguration…. Bullet proof, drone proof, missile proof in many cases.”
He noted that President Xi is coming before the end of September. “What we need is a big ballroom that can hold thousands of people.” He noted that China has one.
POTUS rejected criticism that he is building the ballroom for himself. “I’ll be lucky if I get six months because it will be done towards the middle of ‘28. I’m really building it for other presidents.”
POTUS then began taking about the Trump Accounts and thanked Senator Ted Cruz. He spoke of the “hottest stock market in history”. He praised the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq for coming together.
POTUS touted his record reducing crime and said 91% of crime in Washington DC was caused by 2.1% of the population but now the city is safe with restaurants flourishing. “Crimes of passion we can’t do much about. Just one of those things.”
POTUS said: “I just wish that I’d get a call from the governor of Illinois, as an example, or the mayor Chicago” saying they need help. “I would sort it out so fast.” He added: “I wish Governor Newsom would call me.”
POTUS said: “We now have a country based on merit. That goes for colleges… And you get into the military on merit… We have strong soldiers… It’s all based on merit.”
“We grew based on merit. We didn’t grow based on you’ve got to have x, x, x and x.”
POTUS attacked the Democrats, remarking: “Social Democrat is a communist… There’s no appetite for it.”
POTUS praised Nicki Minaj, who stood and received applause, then returned to the subject of Trump Accounts.
Speech is ongoing.
David Smith
Washington bureau chief
Guardian News & Media