Donald Trump was confronted by a heckler who told him to "shove that ballroom up your ***" during a rally in Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday, as the president continues his tour of Republican states ahead of next week's midterm elections.
The outburst came amid criticism that Trump is preoccupied with rebuilding parts of the White House to add a ballroom, which he has argued would also improve security through a drone deployment platform.
President responds to heckler
Trump responded to the heckler by saying: "Oh, go home. Go home. Go home." He then claimed, without providing evidence, that the heckler had been paid.
The president has mentioned the ballroom on multiple occasions. The White House has said the project would be completed before the end of his second non-consecutive term in January 2029.
Legal and political challenges
Legal challenges have slowed the project's progress, although the US Supreme Court has cleared the way for it to be completed.
Trump's focus on the ballroom has led to accusations that he and his administration are not addressing the issues that matter most to Americans, particularly the cost of living and fuel prices.
Midterm outlook
Republicans are forecast to face losses in some of their safest seats in the midterms, scheduled for Tuesday next week. Polls show Democrats ahead in key races.
If Democrats take control of the House and Senate, they would be able to obstruct Trump's legislative agenda and launch investigations into the president and his administration.
