Trump said George Washington should have named Mount Vernon after himself, report claims

President Trump criticised George Washington's brand marketing during Mount Vernon tour ( )

President Trump reportedly thinks George Washington could have done more to promote his personal brand.

On Wednesday, Politico published a report in which new details of the president’s 2018 trip to Mount Vernon in Virginia alongside the first lady, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, have been revealed.

According to the report, during the tour, Mount Vernon president and CEO Doug Bradburn, in a “desperate” bid to get the president interested, informed the group that Washington was also major real-estate developer.

Rather than being impressed by the commonality between himself and the first president, Mr Trump reportedly criticised Washington for failing to name his property after himself.

“If he was smart, he would’ve put his name on it,” the president said, according to three sources. “You’ve got to put your name on stuff or no one remembers you.”

In response to the president’s insight, Bradburn reportedly reminded the president that although Washington did not name his Virginia estate after himself, the nation’s capital bears his name - as does an entire state and multiple schools and universities.

According to the report, the president, who showed “disinterest” throughout the 45-minute tour, conceded the point and laughed.

Also during the tour, which Bradburn described as “truly bizarre,” President Trump reportedly asked whether Washington was “really rich” - a topic the president was “most excited about,” according to a source. Washington was believed to be one of the wealthiest people in the country during his lifetime. 

The tour of Mount Vernon took place in 2018

In addition to his thoughts on Washington’s real estate branding, the 45th president also had criticism for the first president’s home, which Politico reports he said was too small and had staircases that were “too narrow”.

President Trump reportedly told the group he could have built Mount Vernon “better and for less money”.

According to Politico, following the tour, Bradburn told several people that the Macrons were “far more knowledgeable about the history of the property than the president”.