President Trump turned a routine Wednesday at the White House into a construction-site tour, leading reporters onto the South Lawn to inspect the newly rebuilt granite helipad.

He walked through the press onto the landing area, explained what had changed, praised the crew building it and ensured cameras captured ongoing progress.

Trump spent several minutes detailing why granite was selected over asphalt. He noted that the stone can withstand 35,000 pounds of pressure per square inch and remains unmarked under heavy use.

The president also stated that the upgraded landing area would impress visiting foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is scheduled to visit next month. During the tour, construction crews were actively working around Trump, and he personally thanked workers by shaking hands and publicly acknowledging their efforts.

The granite pad was commissioned to accommodate newer, more powerful Marine One helicopters. Trump indicated that Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary that builds presidential helicopters, would cover costs rather than taxpayer funds.

Previously, presidential helicopters landed directly on the South Lawn. The new permanent pad is designed to handle aircraft landings while protecting grass from repeated impacts.

Trump signed a large piece of granite set to become part of the project.