Trump Touts White House Ballroom After GOP Midterm Losses

In his first public appearance after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in sweeping midterm defeats for Republicans, President Donald Trump focused largely on the White House ballroom under construction. He praised its size, beauty and security, signed what he described as the project’s final steel beam, and promoted other Washington renovation projects. Trump addressed the election results only after reporters asked, claiming Republicans would have won if he had been on the ballot. He also said the war with Iran contributed to the losses by temporarily raising gasoline prices, but said he would make the same decision to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.