President Trump spoke with reporters on Tuesday as he toured the construction site for the White House ballroom. Mr. Trump also commented on the apparent plans to resume strikes against Iran before he announced progress in talks.

In President Donald Trump’s telling, he was an hour away from ordering new strikes on Iran when he abruptly announced on social media Monday that he would allow more time for diplomacy.

Trump made his comments a day after saying he had paused a planned resumption of hostilities following a new proposal by Tehran to end the conflict.