Donald Trump makes bizarre gesture and yells 'nuclear missiles' at White House
Journalists assembled on the White House lawn called out questions to the President, who had been conducting an inspection of the building's rooftop.
He's plotting major refurbishments to the legendary residence and administrative headquarters.
His initial alteration involved concreting over the renowned Rose Garden - a move that has provoked outrage amongst detractors.
The subsequent scheme he's revealed involves adding an enormous ballroom to the East Wing's exterior - blueprints bearing striking resemblance to the ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, reports the Mirror.
On this occasion, he answered enquiries about his future construction plans by seemingly yelling "missiles. Nuclear missiles." President Donald Trump talks to the press as he surveys the White House grounds from the roof on Tuesday. (Image: AP)
He gestured towards the White House roof below him, then executed a rigid-armed motion, repeating it twice.
It appears probable that the President was simply mimicking a missile launch.
However, following the controversy surrounding a comparable gesture Elon Musk made at a celebration for his inauguration, his opponents will likely highlight the movement's resemblance to a Nazi salute.
Trump seemed to be surveying multiple locations including the press briefing room roof and the Rose Garden.
Dressed in a suit paired with a crimson tie, Trump toured the space alongside several companions, whilst someone amongst them captured photographs. Trump might have been casting an eye over the ongoing refurbishments and building works at the White House.
He's made a comeback to the Oval Office with ambitious plans to transform the premises, including proposals to concrete over the Rose Garden and erect an opulent ballroom.
After surveying the scene from atop the White House, Trump meandered to a spot above the press briefing room, where he exchanged a few words with the journalists assembled beneath him.
When quizzed about his rooftop venture, Trump remarked he was "taking a little walk" and dropped a hint about the "ballroom on the other side."
In the previous month, it was publicised by the White House that come September, work would commence on a grandiose new $200 million ballroom – marking the first major architectural addition to the Executive Mansion since the Truman balcony in 1948. Amongst the entourage accompanying him was a figure believed to be James McCrery, the architect spearheading the project.
"Just another way to spend my money for this country," Trump quipped. "Anything I do is financed by me."
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