Trump's Diplomatic Moves and White House Upgrades

President Donald Trump had a busy day of meetings and announcements. He sat down with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office. Rutte praised Trump's efforts to bring peace to the Middle East and offered NATO's support for Ukraine. This meeting happened just as the U. S. announced new sanctions against Russia's major oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and hinted at more sanctions if needed. Trump explained why he decided against sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. He said training Ukrainian forces to use them would take at least six months, maybe even a year. He also mentioned that he didn't want to deplete the U. S. supply of these missiles. Instead, he plans to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict with China's President Xi Jinping during their upcoming meeting. Trump believes Xi could influence Putin to end the war. Meanwhile, Trump is making big changes to the White House. He's building a new ballroom in the East Wing. The project has faced some criticism, but Trump insists that much of the old structure was already in poor condition. He also claims the administration has been transparent about the project, even though the cost has risen from $250 million to $300 million. He mentioned working with the military to ensure the project meets high standards. The White House renovation has sparked debates about priorities and transparency. Some question the high cost and the need for such a large ballroom. Others wonder why the project is being rushed. Despite the criticism, Trump remains confident in his decisions.