Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Trump Tried to Give George Washington Posthumous Advice on What He Should Have Done 'If He Was Smart' and People Are Dragging Him

Trump Tried to Give George Washington Posthumous Advice on What He Should Have Done 'If He Was Smart' and People Are Dragging Him
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images, Library of Congress/Getty Images

Yikes.

President Trump toured George Washington's historic Mount Vernon compound last year, and had some sage advice for America's first president. "If he was smart, he would’ve put his name on it."

Mount Vernon was home to George and Martha Washington. According to a recent report from Politico, Trump seemed less interested in the rich history of the compound and more interested in why Washington hadn't thought to secure his legacy via a personal brand. Trump reportedly said:


“If he was smart, he would’ve put his name on it. You’ve got to put your name on stuff or no one remembers you.”

In case you need a reminder, Washington's face is on the dollar bill, his visage is one of four likenesses carved into Mount Rushmore, and he did have the state capital named after him. "Good point," laughed Trump.

People couldn't even.

What's more, George Washington was unlikely to have named any of his real estate ventures after himself.

He was notoriously reticent to flaunt the extravagance of his presidency, claiming he was unfit to hold the office and insisting on staying in public lodgings during the trip from Mount Vernon to New York, where he was to be inaugurated. "He asked his countrymen not to make a fuss over his inauguration and they repeatedly, resolutely, and resoundingly ignored him," wrote Slate's John Dickerson.

Trump, on the other hand, has given his name to many of his real estate ventures. Trump Tower may be the most infamous, but others include Trump International Hotels, Trump Plaza, several golf courses, and even steaks.

Joining the Trumps on the tour was French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte. The tour was led by Mount Vernon president and CEO himself, Doug Bradburn, who struggled to maintain the attention of President Trump. According to Fox News, "Bradburn reportedly said the Macrons were more knowledgeable about the estate than the commander-in-chief."

The Macrons may have known more about U.S. history than America's president, but Trump was an expert in one thing: money. He reportedly asked if Washington was "really rich," and expressed admiration for his real estate dealings.

As for the Mount Vernon estate itself, Trump was unimpressed. He criticized the 18th century architecture, claiming "the rooms were too small, the staircases too narrow, and he even spotted some unevenness in the floorboards," reported Politico. "He could have built the place better, he said, and for less money,"

George Washington will probably be remembered despite Trump's concerns. Not everyone needs eponyms to secure their legacy.

More from News

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Showering RFK Jr. Bizarrely Photobombs Wife Cheryl Hines As She Promotes Beauty Products

Conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—President-elect Donald Trump's Department of Health and Human Services secretary pick—was bizarrely featured showering behind his wife, actor Cheryl Hines, as she attempted to promote her Hines + Young beauty products and a "Make America Healthy Again" candle.

Hines, best known for her starring role on Curb Your Enthusiasm, appeared amused by what she referred to as a “content interruption” in text at the top of the clip.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tracy E. Gilchrist; Ariana Grande
Out.com, Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images

Ariana Grande Reacts To Video Of 'Holding Space' Reporter Poking Fun At Her Viral Interview

Pop star Ariana Grande responded to a journalist who poked fun at the singer's sweet gesture seen during the viral "holding space" interview.

LGBTQ+ journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist from Out magazine interviewed Grande and her Wicked costar Cynthia Erivo, and she apprised the leading ladies of Wicked about people embracing the lyrics from the climactic song at the end of the two-part film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, loosely based on characters from Wizard of Oz.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pete Hegseth; Donald Trump
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images; Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Old Clip Of Pete Hegseth Slamming Trump As 'All Bluster' Resurfaces—And Now It's Awkward

Over the past few weeks, President-elect Donald Trump has been announcing his choices for his 2nd presidential administration. His choice for Secretary of Defense is Fox News host Pete Hegseth.

But a resurfaced video of Hegseth sharing his thoughts during the 2016 presidential campaign may sour his popularity with Trump and his MAGA minions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Ted Cruz
Fox News

Ted Cruz Tries To Mock 'Morning Joe' Hosts For Trump Visit—And Gets Hit With Brutal Reminder

After Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz appeared on Fox News and made a crass joke about Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski's recent trip to Mar-a-Lago, he was instantly called out for his hypocrisy on social media.

Cruz's comments followed the revelation by Scarborough and Brzezinski—two of the most outspoken cable news critics of President-elect Donald Trump during the 2024 election campaign—that they had met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate for clear-the-air discussions. The meeting marked their first face-to-face interaction in seven years.

Keep ReadingShow less
A young woman sitting and crying on stone steps
woman in black and white dress sitting on concrete stairs
Photo by Zhivko Minkov on Unsplash

People Break Down The Most Brutal Awakenings They've Ever Had In Their Life

We've all been faced with a "rude awakening" at some point in our lives.

Perhaps none more universal than becoming an "adult" and learning the responsibilities of paying rent and bills and no longer relying on our parents.

Keep ReadingShow less