- Thursday, June 19, 2025
During a White House press conference, President Trump joked about the immigration status of construction workers installing new flagpoles. The comments come amid his push for the largest deportation program targeting undocumented immigrants in U.S. cities.
By: Vibhuti Pathak
During a press conference on Wednesday (18), president Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies took center stage on the White House lawn as he questioned construction workers installing two new 88-foot-tall flagpoles about their immigration status. The remarks, which appeared to be made in jest, came after a reporter asked the president about his administration’s ongoing deportation efforts.
“Any Illegal Immigrants?”: Trump’s Question to Workers
As Trump addressed the media, he turned to the group of hard hat-wearing workers standing behind him and asked, “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? Any illegal immigrants?.” The construction workers shook their heads, some chuckling at the unexpected question. Trump continued, “If there were, we’ll find out.”
He then joked about the potential consequences of the media’s attention, “your whole life will be destroyed because of this press conference. They’ll destroy these people. I didn’t want to tell them that before they stood up. Don’t worry, I think you’re gonna be OK,” he reassured the workers, drawing laughter from the group.
Flagpoles: A Presidential Gift and Symbol
The press conference was held to mark the installation of two new flagpoles, one each on the North and South Lawns of the White House, which Trump described as a personal gift. “These are the most magnificent poles made – They are tall, tapered, rust proof, rope inside the pole, and of the highest quality. Hopefully, they will proudly stand at both sides of the White House for many years to come!” Trump wrote in a social media post.
Immigration Policy and Mass Deportation Efforts
Trump’s comments came amid his administration’s renewed push for mass deportations. He has instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to “do all in their power” to oversee the largest mass deportation program in US history.
“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 recent social media post.
U.S. immigration officials reversed a recent pause on raids at hotels, farms, and restaurants after conflicting Trump statements. ICE reinstated its daily 3,000-arrest quota, with field heads warning it’s unachievable without targeting previously exempted businesses, Reuters reported.
Mixed Messages and Media Attention
The president’s remarks at the press conference reflected a mix of his trademark tough stance and a moment of levity. He told the workers, “they’ll find out. They’ll be looking into you. You have no idea. Your entire life could be turned upside down because of this press conference.”
He then added, “Don’t worry, I think you’re going to be OK. I’ll be right behind you. Far behind,” drawing more laughter from the workers and the press. Trump even joked that one of the workers might be “perfect for a movie,” suggesting, “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.”
President Trump’s exchange with the flagpole workers highlighted both his administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement and his penchant for unscripted, headline-grabbing moments.
While the workers took the comments in stride, the episode underscored the ongoing national debate over immigration and the personal impact of policy on everyday Americans
