Did Donald Trump just chalk up the courage to suggest that the White needs an actual ballroom for official activities and thus willingly pledge to donate a whopping $100 million to get the job done? While that may be generous of the Republic presidential candidate, staff at the White House isn't too sold out on the idea. In a press conference Monday, Press Secretary Josh Earnest revealed that the White House has turned down Trump's money offering.
"I'm (not) sure it would be appropriate to have a shiny gold 'Trump' sign on any part of the White House," Press Secretary Josh Earnest told USA Today, saying that a Trump insignia on many of the buildings he offers to build usually includes that condition.
Donald Trump had always poked at how the White House lacks an actual ballroom suitable for welcoming high-profile honored guests and hosting official activities. At the last day of the Republican Iowa caucuses, Trump reiterated his intention to revamp the White House's interior.
"Every time the top people come over from China ... they put up a tent at the White House," Donald Trump said during his campaign rally in Sioux, Iowa. "We'll have a ballroom at the White House."
Trump previously expressed that he promises to contract "the top people, the top everything" to get the construction going. But his seemingly grandiose plans, the reason behind his sudden rant about a White House ballroom, is actually good-natured.
"I notice they always put tents up on the lawn. Number one, it's not a good security thing. Number two, the guy that owns the tents is making a fortune," he said.
The hopeful for the 2016 presidential elections reportedly proposed the offer to a certain David Axelrod, former White House senior adviser, Newser noted. Axelrod confirmed this, but said he couldn't recall whether Donald Jr. offered to pay for the construction and other necessary expenses.
Trump has flirted with the possibility of giving the White House a makeover as early as 2011, when he was considering a presidential slate against Barack Obama. He boldly said in an interview, "You'll pick the one that's the greatest with the greatest architecture. I will build it free. So that's anywhere from 50 to 100 million-dollar gift."
Meanwhile, the results of the Iowa caucus show that Trump is leading the delegate race with 28%, a notch higher than rival Ted Cruz who only garnered 23% of likely voters blocs.
