President Donald Trump Says People Call Him a ‘King’ While Comparing Himself to Jesus

President Donald Trump is preparing to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ — whom some would say is a fellow king.

At the White House Easter lunch held Wednesday, April 1, ahead of the upcoming holiday, the 79-year-old president began to speak of the historical religious figure while delivering remarks to those in attendance at the annual event.

“During each day of Holy Week, Christians remember the events of 2,000 years ago that forever changed the world,” Trump began. “On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem as crowds welcomed him with praise, honoring him as king.”

Then, the Apprentice alum said as an aside, “They call me king now. Do you believe it? No king! I’m such a king, I can’t get a ballroom approved.”

Trump was referring to the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which replaces the previously demolished East Wing — also known as the space for the first lady and her staff — and has been reported to cost approximately $400 million.

In recent days, however, Trump’s massive project (which had already begun) was halted by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who said, “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!”

The Associated Press reported that congressional approval was needed. (In an update on Thursday, April 2, the AP said that the ballroom received final approval and can move forward.)

At the White House Easter event, Trump sarcastically said to the crowd, “It’s pretty amazing, right? I’m a king.”

“If I was a king, we’d be doing a lot more,” he continued. “I’m doing a lot, but I could be doing a lot more if I was a king.”

People reported that the footage has since been deleted from the White House website.

According to Fox News’ Jesse Watters, Trump previously told him that he’s building the ballroom to leave a lasting impression on the White House.

“I said, ‘Mr. President, the ballroom is four times the size of the White House,” the conservative political commentator explained late last year at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference in Phoenix (via a clip posted to X).

“He said, ‘Jesse, it’s a monument. I’m building a monument to myself because no one else will,’” Watters said.