Trump admits putting his name on projects because ‘nobody will’ after he’s gone

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that he is putting his name on buildings, programmes and other projects because he believes no one will do so after he leaves office, as he pushes ahead with a series of costly construction and branding initiatives in Washington, DC.

In an interview with New York Magazine, cited by The Independent, Trump agreed with Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff’s suggestion that he appears to be building monuments to himself because nobody else wants to. “That’s true,” Trump told journalist Ben Terris. “Nobody will do it once I’m gone. When I leave here, nobody will.”

Trump’s remarks come amid an extensive effort to leave a personal imprint on the US capital through major construction projects, building renovations, institutional branding and other initiatives.

Among the most controversial projects is the transformation of the White House’s former East Wing into a 90,000-square-foot ballroom complex. The project includes an ornate ballroom, a military-related complex, an underground bunker and a rooftop drone port.

Recently unveiled designs show an elaborate interior featuring gold finishes, golden marble floors and a large chandelier. Trump has also indicated that he would like the facility to bear his name.

“It should,” Trump said when asked whether his name should be on the ballroom. “I don’t know if it will, but it should.”

Trump’s administration has faced legal challenges over several of its efforts to reshape Washington landmarks. These include the proposed renaming of the Kennedy Center and its campus, changes to the capital’s golf course and renovations involving the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

The president has also backed plans for a structure inspired by Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, while his image has appeared on large banners displayed on federal buildings. Other initiatives associated with his name include “Trump Accounts”, “TrumpRx” and the “Trump Gold Card”, which offers a fast-track route to US legal residency for eligible applicants willing to pay $1 million.

The US military is also developing what has been described as a “Trump-class” line of battleships, while an aircraft carrier has been proposed under the name USS Donald J. Trump.

The White House ballroom project has drawn particular scrutiny because the administration demolished the East Wing before construction began. Federal judges have questioned the legality of the project, while Chief Justice John Roberts has also raised concerns. The Supreme Court, however, has allowed construction to continue while the legal challenges proceed.

Trump has defended the project on national security and safety grounds, claiming the structure will use extremely strong steel and concrete capable of withstanding a nuclear attack.

“I don’t think they could, physically,” Trump said when asked whether a future administration could demolish the structure. He argued that its reinforced materials would make it extremely difficult to remove.

A senior administration official told New York Magazine that Trump’s push to complete the ballroom during his current term is partly aimed at ensuring that future administrations cannot easily reverse the project.

“When the ballroom is built, everyone will always know in perpetuity that it was built by Donald Trump,” the official said.

Trump’s comments also come as he increasingly discusses his legacy and mortality. At 80, he is the oldest person to serve as US president and has spoken publicly about the possibility of death and whether he will ultimately go to heaven.

“I want to try and get to heaven, if possible,” Trump said in a previous interview with Fox & Friends while discussing his efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.