President Donald Trump left his critics in disbelief on Monday with his latest verbal detour as he spent nearly two minutes of a ceremony for Medal of Honour recipients bragging about his “beautiful ballroom.” “We have a lot of great service members here with us too in this beautiful building,” the president said during a White House ceremony. “Isn’t it beautiful?” That was enough to launch Trump into one of his favourite subjects: the massive ballroom now under construction on the White House grounds. “See that nice drape?” Trump said, gesturing toward the curtains. “When that comes down right now, you see a very, very deep hole. But in about a year and a half from now, you’re gonna see a very, very beautiful building.” Trump said he liked the current doors and drapes on the building and indicated that he’d like to keep them in place. “I picked those drapes in my first term,” Trump said. “I always liked gold, but I think we can save a lot of money. I just saved, I just saved curtains... and it’ll be spectacular, it’ll be the most beautiful ballroom. I believe it because I built many a ballroom. I believe it’s gonna be the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world.” President Donald Trump speaks about the new ballroom construction before a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Trump wasn’t done with his digression yet. Next, he said first lady Melania Trump isn’t a fan of the construction noise. “She said, ‘Will the pile drivers ever stop?’ You know, they go from 6 in the morning ’til 11:30 in the evening,” he said. “Can you imagine? Here? You know what? To me, that’s a beautiful sound. She doesn’t like it. I love it.” Then, he turned to the cost of the ballroom, which he said would be funded by private donors. “It’ll be under budget, ahead of schedule,” Trump said. “It’ll be 400 million or less. Most people say 400 million or more. No, it’ll be less.” (Story continues below video.) Trump next went back to the first lady’s feelings on the matter. “But my wife isn’t thrilled. She said, ‘this is getting crazy,’” Trump recalled. “I said, ‘Don’t worry about it, we’ll be all finished up in a few months’.” Finally, Trump returned to the topic of the day : honouring Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. Richardson with a Medal of Honour for his actions in Vietnam, as well as bestowing the award posthumously on Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis (for Afghanistan) and Master Sgt. Roderick W. Edmonds (WWII). But some critics said Trump ― who never seems to miss an opportunity to talk about his ballroom ― shouldn’t have gone off-topic during so sombre an occasion as he honours American service members at the same time others are at risk due to the new war in the Middle East. They fired back on X: Americans are getting killed in his war of choice and this addled psycho is going on about the drapes https://t.co/EQyKQRKkS9 — Krystal Ball (@krystalball) March 2, 2026 Four American servicemembers are dead, and all Trump can talk about is his $400 million golden ballroom. Our troops deserve better. https://t.co/k4c7n7P5JL — Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) March 2, 2026 In Trump’s first live public address since illegally taking our country TO WAR, he’s talking about his golden drapes. https://t.co/mm9vDuSPI8 — Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) March 2, 2026 Four U.S. soldiers have tragically fallen in Donald Trump's reckless, chaotic war with Iran. California salutes the courage and enduring sacrifice of our service members and their loved ones. But our Commander in Chief? Don't worry, he's focused on what really matters: himself. https://t.co/OmrfaZKejC — Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) March 2, 2026 The President waxed on about the drapes in the White House ballroom during today's Medal of Honor ceremony. The drapes he needs to focus on are the flags draping the coffins of the four servicemembers killed so far in this illegal war. https://t.co/jE7Zm0WHG5 — Chrissy Houlahan (@RepHoulahan) March 2, 2026 The American people deserved to get a clear explanation of why servicemembers lives are at risk and why their gas prices are about to skyrocket. Instead, they got this. https://t.co/fxr7uaRKdx — Senator Andy Kim (@SenatorAndyKim) March 2, 2026 It’s very odd to talk about this topic at this time. https://t.co/d78zOic8rj — Jonathan Reiner (@JReinerMD) March 2, 2026 Trump’s illegal war in Iran is costing American lives and taxpayer money. He is distracting us from our problems at home – including rising costs and skyrocketing health care – and bragging about his ballroom. https://t.co/an2Rv5wxQQ — John Hickenlooper (@Hickenlooper) March 3, 2026 Out of touch is an understatement. https://t.co/mT0y6cQcMS — Senate Majority PAC (@MajorityPAC) March 2, 2026 It's worth noting that Trump is putting infinitely more effort into selling his ballroom to the American people than anyone in his administration is on selling the attack on Iran. https://t.co/NUKCazAdh4 — Mike Rothschild (@rothschildmd on blu sky) (@rothschildmd) March 2, 2026 I say it reminds me of grandpa, but my grandpa didn't start any wars or show up all over the Epstein Files — Metz (@Metz4Real) March 2, 2026 TWENTY-FIFTH AMENDMENT, TODAY!! https://t.co/nyn4dVtF9E — Andrew Coyne (@acoyne) March 2, 2026 Thoughtful comments from the president after starting a war. https://t.co/u8yLuzdZqm — Jason Selvig (@jasonselvig) March 2, 2026 Bummer some US soldiers died but my drapes will be beautiful… https://t.co/rrLKvogZL5 — Derek Cressman (@DerekCressman) March 2, 2026 UNREAL: Trump just pivoted from talking in the White House about the 4 US soldiers killed in Iran war to talking his great new ballroom. And he talked the ballroom much more time than the dead Americans. This is what a sociopath with dementia looks like! https://t.co/KLkSOImjh3 — (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) March 2, 2026 Just proof that the US is headed by a mentally disturbed person.While the citizens of his country and hundreds or thousands of other people are dying in the war he started a few days ago,heis dealing with the curtains at the press conference.That is an insult to the people killed https://t.co/KdZOvrZ5p3 — Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) March 2, 2026 pic.twitter.com/r3M4w78lvD — JennX (@JennX0608) March 2, 2026