Trump’s White House Renovations Fulfill Obama’s Prediction, Kind Of
In 2011, President Barack Obama mocked Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, a moment that arguably spurred Trump’s presidential ambitions and desire to leave his mark on the White House.
At the event, Obama criticized Trump for repeatedly and falsely claiming that Obama was not born in the United States, questioning his eligibility for president. Trump’s calls for Obama to release his birth certificate had helped him become a leading Republican candidate for the 2012 presidential nomination.
“If elected, Donald Trump would bring some changes to the White House,” Obama joked, highlighting a satirical image showing the White House remodelled with the words “Trump,” “hotel,” “casino,” and “golf course.”
This public ridicule is widely believed to have motivated Trump to run for president in 2016. In my book, The Art of the Political Putdown, I use this example to illustrate how politicians employ humor to assert dominance over opponents.
The humiliation from Obama’s joke caused Trump to temporarily drop the birther conspiracy, though he later revived it.
Author’s summary: Obama’s 2011 ridicule of Trump at a public dinner indirectly fueled Trump’s presidential bid, turning humor into a political catalyst that reshaped the White House’s legacy under Trump.