“They burned parts of the city, including the White House, which at that time ― if you can believe it ― did not yet have a ballroom,” he said as he recapped part of the War of 1812.
The audience laughed at the reference to the ballroom, which Trump has obsessed over for months, often bringing it up unprompted. Earlier this year, Trump even stood during a White House meeting with oil industry executives so he could gaze out the window toward the place where it will be built.
Metaxas then took his flattery up a level.
“Yes, it’s hard to believe that it would take two centuries for the Lord to raise up a great man to bring that ballroom finally to stand where it needs to stand,” he added. “It’s extraordinary. We only had to wait 200 years.”
The audience erupted in cheers and applause.
But on social media, critics thought his comments were no laughing matter: