Trump dragged for bizarre tour of gold coin-adorned White House helipad

U.S. President Donald Trump places challenge coins on a stone that will be inserted into the helipad that is being constructed on the South Lawn, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 19, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper

President Donald Trump spent Wednesday morning with reporters telling them about his new pavement on the White House South Lawn and the helipad.

CNN reported that the president went into great detail about the grading of the helipad and even bragged about himself as "a great builder." He said that the reason he had to order that the helipad be reconstructed is that there was a slope to it, a Washington Post reporter said.

The helipad is a 100-foot-wide granite landing platform being built on the White House South Lawn near the South Portico. The president's new helicopter is expected to be a more powerful VH-92A Patriot helicopter. The exhaust has reportedly damaged the grass during test landings.

"The pad is out there now. It's very close to being finished. The beautiful work is finished, and they're putting the granite top on," Trump said, according to CNN White House reporter Alejandra Jaramillo. "And the granite top says, 'The seal of the United States of America.'"

"He's giving them a guided walking tour of the spot!" said Daily Wire White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan about the 100-foot platform.

He also echoed his affinity with "grass" that has been replaced after his birthday wrestling match stamped down much of the South Lawn.

"Grass has a life like humans have a life," Trump told the press, according to an AP reporter.

Trump then signed a stone that will be placed in his helipad, the press pool reported.

"You can tell he absolutely LOVES going into builder mode," said commentator Nick Sortor, using a laughing emoji.

Trump claimed that "they" have wanted a helipad for 50 years or more and he said that it was "donated by Sikorsky, a helicopter company and subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, because we have helicopters that can't even land here."

Trump's name is carved into the helipad and he signed it with a black Sharpie.

"President Trump just brought out the man overseeing White House helipad construction and said he's NOT revealing his name because Trump wants him to stay working at the White House, not other jobs," mocked one anti-Trump parody account.

"The amount of time he spends on this stuff is wild," commented Democratic strategist Josh Schwerin.

Trump was also mocked for saying the helipad could be used for events, which one account cited as "cocktail parties."

Another account on BlueSky poked fun at Trump's answer to the questions about when it would be open: "This will be open, uh... Within... Could be... It would be good if it was... I took an extra week to lift," said Trump.

"I am struggling to afford to live, but yes... tell me about MORE remodeling projects at the white house. A new helipad and granite driveway? While my family lives on Ramen? F—— Trump," one critic said.

"Trump sure is finding a myriad of ways to spend money when we're supposed to be tightening our belts," another critic remarked.

"Oh, lookie. Trump is signing a stone for the helipad, along with wanting his personal challenge coins to be inserted into the wet concrete. Vanity stone for a vain man," complained one person on X.

From Your Site Articles