President Donald Trump unveiled a long-planned patriotic addition to the White House grounds on Wednesday, installing two new flagpoles on the North and South Lawns—funded entirely out of his own pocket. As he put it, this $100,000 project is a “gift to the country,” and one he had envisioned since his first term.

While standing with the construction workers and greeting reporters, Trump’s signature blend of brash humor and bold warnings was on full display. One worker thanked him for “bringing America back again,” setting the tone for an appearance that quickly veered from ceremonial to headline-making.

Mocking the Media, Defending the Flag

In his classic style, Trump cracked jokes about the press and the event itself, quipping about photographer Doug Mills winning another award for the day’s photos. As he surveyed the construction, he joked they were going to have a “lifting—or another word that starts with E,” drawing laughs.

Then came the moment that turned a lighthearted ceremony into a geopolitical flashpoint.

Iran: “Good Luck”

When a reporter asked whether he was preparing to strike Iran, Trump didn’t hold back. “You don’t seriously think I’m going to answer that question?” he fired back, mocking the journalist for thinking he’d publicly announce a potential military timeline.

He added, with steely precision, “Iran is in trouble.”

Another reporter followed up, asking what he would say to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who recently declared that Tehran would never surrender.

TRUMP: “Let's have a good — they call it a lifting. They also use another word but I'm not gonna use that word. It starts with an “E”. Do you know what the word is? If I ever used it I would be run out of town. Alright. So enjoy it.”

🤣 pic.twitter.com/o6lTVoQNaw

— ALX

🇺🇸 (@alx) June 18, 2025

Trump’s icy response: “I say, ‘Good luck.’” A brief but ominous message, interpreted by many as a final warning to Iran’s leadership in light of escalating tensions in the Middle East.

While he left the door open to diplomacy, saying “nothing is too late,” his tone suggested that the window for negotiation is rapidly closing.

Powell and the Fed: Another Target

In between patriotic quips and foreign policy signals, Trump also took the opportunity to criticize Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell once again—this time for refusing to lower interest rates. Trump has made no secret of his disdain for Powell’s reluctance to cut rates, recently accusing him of holding a personal grudge.

From Hunted to Hunter

Perhaps the most symbolic comment of the day came when Trump was asked why the flagpoles weren’t installed during his first term. “You guys were after me,” he said, referring to the media and political opposition. “I was the hunted—now I’m the hunter. Big difference.”

It was a telling line, underscoring Trump’s new posture as a president unbound. He’s not just governing—he’s taking scalps, and sending signals, both at home and abroad.

In just a few minutes outside the White House, Trump reminded the country—and its enemies—who’s in charge. And judging by the construction crews’ grins and the stunned silence from reporters, it’s clear that he’s enjoying every second of it.