Donald Trump makes bizarre arm gesture after saying he'll put nukes on White House roof
Donald Trump performed a very unusual gesture during a walkabout on the roof of the White House - just after apparently claiming he wanted to install nuclear missiles up there.
Reporters gathered in the White House grounds shouted questions up at the President, who had been on a tour of the roof of the building.
He's planning extensive renovations to the iconic residence and office building.
His first change was to pave over the famous Rose Garden - something that has sparked anger among critics.
The next project he has announced is to tack a huge ballroom on the side of the East Wing - designs of which closely resemble the ballroom in his Mar A Lago club in Florida.
Today, he responded to questions about what he wanted to build next by apparently shouting "missiles. Nuclear missiles."
He pointed to the roof of the White House beneath his feet, then made a stiff-armed gesture, twice.
It seems likely that the President was merely miming the launch of a missile.
But after the furore around a similar gesture Elon Musk compared at a party to celebrate his inauguration, it's likely his critics will note the gesture's similarity to a Nazi salute.
Trump appeared to be taking stock of several areas including the roof of the press briefing room and the Rose Garden.
Wearing a suit with a red tie, Trump walked the area with several other people, as someone with them took photographs.
Get Donald Trump updates straight to your WhatsApp!
As the world attempts to keep up with Trump's antics, the Mirror has launched its very own US Politics WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news from across the pond.
We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in.
All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group.
We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Trump may have been surveying ongoing renovation and construction work at the White House. He returned to the presidency with grand ideas for remaking the building, like paving over the Rose Garden and building a massive ballroom.
After making observations from the White House roof, Trump walked over to an area above the briefing room, briefly interacting with reporters gathered below.
Asked why he was on the roof, Trump said he was 'taking a little walk' and mentioned the 'ballroom on the other side.'
Last month, the White House announced that construction on a massive, new $200 million ballroom — the first structural change to the Executive Mansion itself since the addition of the Truman balcony in 1948 — would begin in September. One of the five men with him appeared to be James McCrery, architect for the project.
'Just another way to spend my money for this country,' Trump said. 'Anything I do is financed by me.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
MasterChef replaced in schedules just weeks into new series after presenter axe
MasterChef is facing yet another hurdle after being pulled from the schedule by the BBC just weeks after making a controversial return to screens with Gregg Wallace hosting MasterChef has been plunged into chaos yet again after being replaced in the TV schedule just weeks after it returned for the latest season. The current run of episodes has already caused controversy after it was allowed to air with Gregg Wallace at the forefront despite a recent report upholding 45 claims against him. The show has a substantially reduced viewership compared to last year, with a drop from 2.7 million to 1.96 million tuning in for the the series debut. While the current series is scheduled to air on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday weekly, it has been bumped from the schedule on August 22nd for the Women's Rugby World Cup. As of yet there is no confirmed date for when the postponed episode will go to air instead from the BBC. England will be hosting the 10th Women's Rugby World Cup from August 22 until September 27. The tournament will see the home nation play the first game as they take on the USA, while reigning champions New Zealand face their first opponents Spain on August 24th. It comes after John Torode's wife Lisa Faulkner breaks her silence after his MasterChef sacking. Both Wallace and John Torode - who was recently sacked over allegations he had used a racist term which he vehemently denied - feature in the new series in a edited down format, mush to the disappointment of many viewers. A source told the Mirror: 'There is a feeling the complainants have been ignored and cast aside. It's the BBC burying their head in the sand all over again. There is a lot and lot of anger over this. WhatsApp groups are blowing up.' The new series made its debut on iPlayer on Wednesday morning, with the first three episodes added to the streaming platform. The season opener was then broadcast on BBC One later that evening at 8pm. Wallace was fired by the BBC following multiple complaints of misconduct that were upheld, including his use of inappropriate sexual language. Torode, meanwhile, was sacked over claims that he had used a racist term. The BBC decided to air the latest series after the two sackings as the amateur chefs featured in the run of episodes 'gave their heart and soul' to it. In a statement, they said: "After careful consideration and consultation with the contestants, we have decided to broadcast the amateur series of MasterChef on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 6 August. MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey."
Daily Mirror
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Owner of Donald Trump-themed burger chain may soon be deported by president he worships
A Lebanese man who has been in the US since 2019 and started a chain of Donald Trump inspired restaurants could soon be deported by the president he worships The boss of an infamous Trump Burger chain could soon be booted out of the US by the very president he idolises. Homeland Security sources have revealed that restaurant boss Roland Beainy, 40, was arrested in May after immigration cops discovered he had overstayed his visa. Beainy, who hails from Lebanon, arrived in 2019 on a tourist visa and never left, even after it expired in February this year. Officials claim he's been living in America illegally ever since. The Trump fanatic launched his first burger joint in 2020, complete with MAGA-themed décor, and has since grown the chain to four outlets across the Houston area. It comes after Donald Trump was seen with a mystery mark in Scotland after his chronic health diagnosis. But his political loyalty isn't earning him any special treatment in the White House's sweeping crackdown on undocumented migrants, and he could soon see himself living in another country, the NY Post reports. In a fiery statement, the Department for Homeland Security said: 'This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have." Officials also claim the Lebanon native's bid for legal status was 'revoked' after his own family allegedly admitted his marriage was a sham to dodge immigration rules. Homeland Security didn't hold back, accusing Beainy of having 'no Green Card, a history of illegal marriages, and an assault charge', and even branded it a 'flagrant abuse' of US immigration law. The burger boss denies all wrongdoing, insisting the claims are 'not true' in a statement to the Houston Chronicle. He was released on bond in June while his deportation case drags on — but the fight is far from over. The Trump Burger brand has courted controversy before. A recent Facebook video showed a Trump impersonator jokingly asking Latina diners for their green cards. Adding to his troubles, Beainy is locked in a bitter legal row with the landlord of his Kemah branch. Archie Patterson claims he's owed money, while Beainy's side insists Patterson forced out staff and seized control of the site. For now, it's not known whether Beainy will be serving customers in Texas or back in Beirut in the months to come. His future is now in the hands of the courts. Earlier this year, a movement dubbed Operation Safeguard led to an increase in ICE and allied agencies to conduct mass raids across major cities, detaining tens of thousands including those with legal or pending status. At the same time, the administration dramatically expanded detention infrastructure and used military-style camps.
Reuters
29 minutes ago
- Reuters
Lula and Putin discuss peace in Ukraine before US summit
BRASILIA, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Saturday for about 40 minutes, the Brazilian presidential palace said, adding that Putin shared information about his discussions with the United States and "recent peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine." The leaders also discussed their cooperation in the BRICS group of emerging countries and "discussed the current international political and economic scenario," according to the statement. The conversation with Lula is the latest of a flurry of calls between Putin and foreign leaders in recent days ahead of the Russian president's expected meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump next week. Putin spoke to the leaders of China and India, both also part of the BRICS group of developing nations, and other presidents from Central Asia and Europe on Friday to brief them on his contacts with the United States about the war in Ukraine. Lula has been in a public spat with Trump since the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on the imports of Brazilian goods, which Trump linked to an alleged "witch hunt" against his ally and Brazil's former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. U.S. imports of some Brazilian products, such as orange juice and aircraft, received a lower rate. Lula told Reuters on Wednesday he planned to call the leaders of the BRICS countries, which also include South Africa, to discuss a joint response to Trump's tariffs on U.S. imports. The Brazilian leader spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. Trump has threatened BRICS nations with additional 10% tariffs last month, as the group gathered in a summit in Rio de Janeiro in July.
