Political reporters and commentators on Monday reacted sternly to President Donald Trump referring to the White House Cabinet room as a "boardroom" when he introduced new White House chief of staff John Kelly.
The Cabinet room functions in a way very similar to the boardrooms Trump is used to, with his top people seated at a long table with him at the center in the executive role. Critics were quick to point out that the longtime businessman even featured a boardroom on his reality show "The Apprentice," and they questioned whether he is aware that he is no longer hosting the show.
.@realDonaldTrump to press after welcoming #Kelly as new COS: "we'll see you in the board room"...uh you're not on #Apprentice anymore sir
— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) July 31, 2017
The boardroom was part of the set of "The Apprentice" https://t.co/43g4sa26c9
— Liam Stack (@liamstack) July 31, 2017
Trump tells press "We'll see you in the boardroom." Um, this is not The Apprentice! It's the Cabinet Room. https://t.co/onqvJf7nte
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) July 31, 2017
NOW: President Trump, after swearing-in Gen. Kelly tells reporters, of the Cabinet meeting: "We'll see you in the boardroom!"
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) July 31, 2017
Politico even noted the exchange on its official Twitter account.
After talking to reporters about his new chief of staff, Trump refers to the Cabinet Room as the "boardroom" pic.twitter.com/2D2JRZeVd5
— POLITICO (@politico) July 31, 2017
At Politicus USA, Jason Easley wrote an article about the incident in which he referred to Trump as "mentally gone" in the headline.
"This is not an episode of 'The Apprentice,'" Easley said, pointing out that the room is officially known as the Cabinet room. "There is no boardroom in the White House; the executive branch of the United States government is not a business."
"There is something off with the president, and all of these odd public behaviors are beginning to add up," Easley added.