Trump touts White House ballroom as Democrats celebrate midterm blue wave

WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump 's first public appearance after Republicans' midterm shellacking? An activity he said relaxes him. He returned to his White House ballroom site and gave a detailed update on its construction.

He visited the site on Nov. 4 to watch the installation of the controversial project's final beam and speak to construction workers. Drone proof, missile proof, bullet proof − it will be the "safest place" in Washington, when it opens, Trump said in an impromptu speech.

"I doubt there's a ballroom in the country with 50-foot ceilings," Trump said. "There's never been anything built like this, and it's for the country, and it's free. When it's completed, it'll be the best anywhere in the world."

He pushed back on critics who have targeted his DC renovation and beatifications projects.

"I'm doing it because the White House is the ultimate symbol of America," Trump said, though he also acknowledged his love for construction projects. "For me, it's relaxing. For somebody else, it's the opposite."

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum called it a "day of celebration" and referred to Trump as the "greatest builder" who has ever been president.

The event largely mirrored the president's final pitch to voters ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, when he spoke at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to tout his Washington construction projects. The president spoke then for 20 minutes before bringing up the looming midterms.

The following day, Democrats won control of the House and Senate in a seismic blue wave that saw them push deep into red territory. Trump had urged Republicans to "pretend I'm on the ballot," but Democrats flipped seven Senate seats including in South Carolina, Kansas and Texas.

In the final stretch of the campaign, Trump, who has a record-low approval rating, crisscrossed the country to hold more than two dozen rallies for Republicans. In doing so, he turned the election into a referendum on his presidency.

Still, Trump said on Nov. 4 he had no regrets. He told USA TODAY that if he were on the ballot, Republicans would have won.

"You saw the people. They were packed. Thousands and thousands of people at every rally," Trump said. "There was such love at those rallies, it was incredible. We weren't able to transfer the love to candidates."

Trump admitted in the immediate aftermath of the election that the Iran war contributed to the defeat, which Vice President JD Vance also said following the GOP's losses.

"If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so," Vance said in a social media post. "Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest."

Addressing reporters later in the afternoon, Trump said Vance's assessment was "largely true," but he believed the military conflict was worth it in the end.

"At the same time, if I had to do it again, I'd have to do it again," Trump said.

After another round of questions, he asked press if they wanted to see his helipad. "Should I walk out the other way?" Trump said to an aide as reporters looked out onto the South Lawn.

He walked out through his ballroom, to a round of applause from construction workers.