On Wednesday, President Donald Trump stopped to inquire about the legal status of workers who assisted in erecting enormous flagpoles at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, bringing his expansive immigration policies to the White House lawn. After a reporter questioned the president on his administration’s deportation efforts, the president offered what seemed to be lighthearted comments.
“We’re eliminating thousands of them. During the news conference, Trump started by saying, “Murderers, drug dealers, mentally ill people, from insane asylums,” before turning to face the line of construction workers wearing hard hats behind him. “Do we have anybody here who’s a member of — no, I don’t think so. You’ve known these people for a long time?” he asked. “Any illegal immigrants?”
When Trump said, “If there were, we’ll find out,” the construction workers shook their heads and some of them even laughed. “This press conference is going to ruin your entire existence. These people will be destroyed by them. Trump remarked, “I didn’t want to tell them that before they got up.” “Don’t worry, I think you’re gonna be OK,” the president assured the employees.
Trump ordered the workers to install two 88-foot-tall flagpoles on the North Lawn and the South Lawn, before the press conference on Wednesday. According to Trump’s social media post on Tuesday, the flagpoles were a gift from him to the White House, which he said “was always missing from this magnificent place.”
“These are the most magnificent poles made – They are tall, tapered, rust proof, rope inside the pole, and of the highest quality,” Trump tweeted. “Hopefully, they will proudly stand at both sides of the White House for many years to come!” Trump’s remarks coincide with his directive to ICE officials to utilize “all in their power” in order to supervise the most extensive mass deportation effort in history.
MUST WATCH: President Trump turns around and asks if any of the construction workers installing the flag poles at the White House are illegal immigrants.
“Any illegal immigrants here?” pic.twitter.com/coPm2NADgr
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) June 18, 2025
“In order to achieve this, we must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside,” Trump wrote in a lengthy social media post over the weekend.
“Is there anyone here?” He turned to the employees and inquired. “Are there any undocumented immigrants?” He informed the men that the news media, not himself, would be investigating them after no one replied. He gestured to the reporters in front of him and added, “They’ll find out.” They will be examining you. You’ll be shocked. This press conference is going to ruin your entire existence.
IN HIS WORDS
Anyone here illegal?
President Trump asked members of a work crew putting up a new flagpole on the White House grounds to stand with him as he addressed the news media on Wednesday… pic.twitter.com/1y36pQEgau
— Loreyla D’Orazio 🇻🇪🇮🇹🇺🇸 (@Barlofa) June 19, 2025
He then gave them his word that he would support them. He told one man, “Don’t worry, I think you’re going to be OK.” “I’ll follow closely behind you, far behind. The men chuckled. “No, I’ll follow closely behind you,” Mr. Trump added. During the press conference, the president even hinted that one of the employees might possibly end up becoming a movie star.
“But remember that somewhere in this group, there’s somebody that is going to captivate some movie producer,” he said, adding: “Somebody is going to say that guy is perfect for a movie, and you’re going to become a star, and your friends are going to call you, and you won’t even return them.”
For a president who has implemented new exclusions for farm and hotel workers and supported some of the most severe immigration policies in decades, it was all a little confusing. A reporter questioned the administration’s contradictory messages regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s position that work site raids will continue to be a top priority and Mr. Trump’s directive to scale up operations at farms.
