WASHINGTON - Standing at a podium last week in the East Room, President Donald Trump talked about two men who had advised him about zoning permits for his long-desired White House ballroom.
At that Oct. 15 dinner, ordered up to thank private donors to the project, America's 45th and 47th president described the men as “these two geniuses” who were “like movie stars." Trump recalled them telling him that he could start the process immediately for the project "near" the East Wing. No permits or reviews were needed.
A second-generation real estate businessman, Trump explained that he was well-versed with the “brutal” process of getting zoning approvals but couldn’t believe his ears that he could move with such speed at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
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“I said, 'how long would it take? They said, ‘Sir, you can start tonight. You have zero zoning conditions. You have no approvals.''" Trump said. "I said, 'you gotta be kidding.' He said, 'Sir, this is the White House. You're the president of the United States. You can do anything you want.'"
