"Our basin is bigger than skyscrapers": Trump (again) boasts about his construction projects

The Republican president, who had not appeared in public for several days, immediately mentioned one of the many projects he has launched: the renovation of a large pool next to the monument dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, one of the most visited places in Washington.

"It opened in 1922 and there have always been leaks," lamented the former property developer, who is never more animated than when he talks about construction or renovation, always with a wealth of detail.

He praised the blue paint and the "very special material" used to waterproof the pool, which is scheduled to open before July 4, the national holiday, which will also mark the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.

The American press questioned the cost of the project and the procedure for awarding the contract.

The 79-year-old billionaire displayed a large diagram, titled "Our basin is bigger than skyscrapers," comparing the length of the body of water to the height of three famous buildings, including the Empire State Building in New York.

Donald Trump also mentioned the famous "I have a dream" speech delivered by Martin Luther King, an icon of civil rights, near this same pool in 1963.

Martin Luther King

The former reality TV host is fascinated by comparisons and measurements of television audiences or crowds, which he always presents to his advantage.

The Republican president claimed that the murdered pastor had gathered "a million people".

"I gathered the same number of people," he continued, repeating a statement he had already made several times, but without saying precisely which speech he was referring to.

According to the press, Donald Trump is referring to his speech of January 6, 2021, following which his supporters attacked the Capitol.

"You put the photos side by side, which we did, and they say I had 25.000 (people) and he had a million, but I had more people, who were closer together," he said.

According to the National Constitution Center, the rally where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous speech drew 250.000 people. There has been no official estimate for the rally on January 6, 2021.

Donald Trump has often been accused by his opponents of inflating the numbers, for example when he claimed that more people attended his inauguration in 2017 than Barack Obama's in 2009, a claim disputed from all sides.

Following his statements on the basin, the president signed decrees on the operation of customs and on civil servants.

He then answered questions on current international affairs, particularly concerning Iran. In a recent interview, he had admitted that he found discussions with Tehran "very boring".