While speaking with reporters on the White House lawn on Tuesday, Donald Trump snapped after being asked about his personal wealth since returning to office. A journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation asked him, “How much wealthier are you now than when you returned to the White House?”
“Well, I don’t know,” Trump said. “The deals I made, for the most part … other than what my kids are doing here. They’re running my business… but most of the deals that I’ve made were made before. And that’s what I’ve done for a life. I’ve built buildings.”
He then brought up a ballroom he claims he is building at the White House.
“You see that area?” Trump asked the reporter. “That is going to be the greatest ballroom anywhere in the world. And for a hundred and fifty — so it gives me pleasure to do it for the country. And I’m paying for it. The country is not — and that’s an expensive ballroom. I think it’ll cost $250 million. And it will be, I think, the finest ballroom. For 150 years … you know, they’ve wanted a ballroom and now they’re going to finally have it. And it’s going to knock your socks off!”
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The reporter pressed him again, pointing out recent reports that the Trump family has made as much as $5 billion in recent months from a crypto venture.
“Is it appropriate, President Trump, that a president in office should be engaged in so much business activity?” the reporter asked.
Trump shifted the blame to his children once more. “Well, I’m really not, my kids are running the business,” he said.
But then came the moment he lost his cool. He turned to the reporter and asked, “Where are you from?”
“I’m from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation,” the journalist answered.
Trump went on the attack. “In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very much right now. And they want to get along with me. You know, your leader is coming over to see me very soon. I’m going to tell him about you. You set a very bad tone,” Trump fumed.
When the reporter tried to follow up, Trump cut him off. “Quiet!” he barked, before moving on to another correspondent.
The exchange was classic Trump. Faced with a tough question about money, he ducked, bragged about something unrelated, then exploded at the person who dared to press him. The ballroom talk may have been meant to distract, but it only highlighted his inability to give straight answers.
You can watch the exchange in the video below.
REPORTER: How much wealthier are you now than when you returned to the White House?
TRUMP: The deals I made for the most part, other than what my kids are doing — they’re running my business — most of the deals that I made were made before. Where are you from?
REPORTER:… pic.twitter.com/dccL8DjNjG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 16, 2025
Featured image via X screengrab
