Featured Image Credit: Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Social Media, Twitter
Madison Burgess
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Social Media, Twitter
Donald Trump brutally snapped at a reporter yesterday as he hit back at critics of his extravagant ballroom plans, claiming he's been 'transparent' about everything.
On Wednesday (22 October), the US President, 79, was taking questions from reporters following a meeting with NATO boss Mark Rutte, when he was quizzed about the White House's East Wing.
For those not in the loop, the Republican leader sparked backlash when he announced that the East Wing is going to be entirely demolished, making way for the $300million ballroom.
He explained: "We determined that after really a tremendous amount of study with some of the best architects in the world, we determined that really knocking it down, trying to use a little section, you know, the East Wing was not much. It was not much left from the original."
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Trump bluntly stated: "In order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure."
However, as we say, the somewhat sudden move has prompted outrage from some Americans, who have accused him of 'lying'.
This stems from the US President's earlier comments, reassuring people that the new addition, which he first announced in July, 'wouldn't interfere with the current building'.
As per MailOnline, Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason asked Trump what his response is to people who are saying he's not been 'transparent'.
The world leader hit back with: "I haven't been transparent? Really? I've shown this to everyone who would listen."
He held up papers showing the plans for the proposed ballroom and raged: "Third-rate reporters didn't see it because they didn't look," before turning to Mason and adding: "You're a third-rate reporter, always have been."
Trump added: "'These pictures have been in newspapers, they've been in - all over the place - and we're very proud of it. It's gotten great reviews, it's gotten really great reviews.
"I think we've been more transparent than anybody's ever been."
But, some people are still unimpressed with the comments and have rushed to social media to have their say.
One Twitter user penned: "He literally said nothing would be demolished, so did Karoline Leavitt."
A second angrily quipped: "There’s so much gaslighting right now. The whole of America is trapped in this abusive relationship!"
And a third wrote: "I just noticed this new pattern. Whenever Donald Trump is caught in a lie, he attacks the reporter. Did anyone else notice that?"
Meanwhile, a fourth fact-checked by quoting Trump's own words, writing: "Trump on July 31 when asked about the ballroom: “It won’t interfere with the current building. It will be near it but not touching it, and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of. It’s my favourite. It’s my favourite place. I love it.""
And a fifth chimed in with: "I don’t even have words. He completely ignores the fact that he said he would not touch the current building, and there would not be an entrance into his ballroom from the White House.
"Both of these were complete lies."
Tyla has previously contacted the White House for comment.