Trump’s White House Renovations Fulfill Obama’s Prediction, Kind Of
In 2011, President Barack Obama mocked Donald Trump at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which may have contributed to Trump’s decision to run for president and his later efforts to put a personal stamp on the White House.
Obama’s Chiding at the Correspondents’ Dinner
Obama’s jabs came after Trump had repeatedly and falsely claimed that Obama was not born in the United States, questioning his eligibility to be president. These demands helped push Trump into the spotlight as a leading Republican contender for the 2012 nomination.
President Obama joked that if Trump were elected, he would bring changes to the White House.
Obama pointed to a satirical photo displayed at the event showing a remodeled White House emblazoned with “Trump” and “The White House” in large purple letters, followed by “hotel,” “casino,” and “golf course.”
Impact of Obama’s Ridicule
This moment of ridicule is widely seen as a catalyst in inspiring Trump to pursue the presidency in 2016. The author of The Art of the Political Putdown highlights Obama’s mockery as an example of how politicians use humor to assert dominance over opponents.
“Obama’s ridicule humiliated Trump, who temporarily dropped the birther conspiracy before reviving it.”
Summary
Obama’s humorous attack on Trump at the 2011 dinner played a key role in shaping Trump’s political ambitions and his later changes to the White House.