Trump Gets Up, Walks Away From Meeting To Stare Out Window At Ballroom

President Donald Trump looks out at White House ballroom construction as he arrives to speak during a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington. 

US President Donald Trump got so excited about the construction on his increasingly costly new White House ballroom that he got up from a meeting with oil executives on Friday to stare out the window at it.

“Unusual time to look, but I figured we might as well,” Trump said to light chuckles from the room.