Then we had to decide on a building. And they came in, one of the generals. “Sir, would you please sign this order?” I said, “What’s it for?” “We’re going to build — start the process” — it would take 30 years, by the way — “of building the embassy.” The actual embassy.

“How much is it?” “One billion dollars, sir.” I said, “Wait a minute, this is a one-story building.” (Laughter.) That’s what I do. How do you spend a billion? “Sir, we’re going to purchase land, and then we’re going to get approvals. And we’re going to….”

I said, “How old are we going to be by the time this thing finishes, General?” (Laughter.) “I don’t know, sir, but it’s $1 billion.”

. . .

I called David Friedman. I said, “David, go check Jerusalem. Do we own any land?” He said, “Let me check it out.” He calls me back. He goes, “Sir, we do. We own a much better piece that the piece they want to buy. Much better. It’s bigger. It’s safer. It’s a much better location with better views. And you know what? We have a building on it.” (Laughter and applause.)

And he says, “Sir, I think we can renovate the building for $200,000.” (Applause.) True story. And it’s the only time in my whole life that — you know, usually, I’d say, “Make it a hundred.” I said, “David, it’s too cheap. It doesn’t sound like enough.” I said, “Make it $500,000 or less.”

And we did. And we took this building, which was a very good building —- set back. It had all the things that you need. They like set back, for safety. A big site. A beautiful site. And I said, “Do me another favor. Use Jerusalem stone.” Because a friend of mine in New York has — he’s so proud. He uses Jerusalem stone in his office. He’s a very rich guy. Ron Baron. He’s got a wall of Jerusalem stone.

Every time I come in, he goes, “Oh, this is Jerusalem stone.” And I say, “Ron, you’ve told me that 100 times.” (Laughter.) He said, “You have no idea how expensive it is.” I said, “Listen, you’re in Jerusalem. Can you get Jerusalem stone?” He says, “Yeah, I can buy it real cheap.” (Laughter.) Comes from Jerusalem. So they used Jerusalem stone, and we built it for less than $500,000.

We opened it in four months. That is better than the Wollman Rink story — you want to really know the truth. It’s better. (Applause.) So instead of a billion and a half — don’t forget, the billion was going to be $2 billion and $3 billion. I could tell you stories. But anyway, so we — not only did we get and do what we said I was going to do, but I got the building built and it’s been open for a year and a half. And it’s a beautiful, beautiful embassy. (Applause.)

And maybe someday, they’ll build whatever they want to build, and they’ll have a good time, and they’ll waste a lot of money. But we’ve got a beautiful building now that works beautifully.

— Remarks by President Trump at Values Voter Summit
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
October 12, 2019