Salman Rushdie, the acclaimed author of The Satanic Verses, recently spoke out in a wide-ranging interview with The Independent's editor-in-chief, Geordie Greig, about his criticisms of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Rushdie expressed a desire for the demolition of Trump's proposed White House ballroom and a 250-foot triumphal arch, which he called "ridiculous." Trump had planned to demolish the East Wing of the White House to build a $400 million ballroom, and the arch—dubbed "Arc de Trump" by some—features a golden-winged Lady Liberty atop two golden eagles. The National Trust for Historic Preservation had previously tried to block the project, calling it an "aesthetic, cultural and historical" affront, but the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled 5-4 in favor of the president. Rushdie, who has lived in America since 2000 and holds both British and American citizenship, called Trump a "brilliant liar" and criticized his promises, including a pledge to give $5,000 to all U.S. adults if the Republican Party wins the upcoming midterm elections. He argued that Trump has a history of breaking his word and mocking the U.S. First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of expression and religion. Rushdie dismissed Trump's offer as insincere, claiming he "stiffs people all the time." Rushdie has faced significant personal risks for his work. He has received death threats for years over The Satanic Verses, and in 2022, he narrowly survived an assassination attempt in New York by Hadi Matar, who was later sentenced to 25 years in prison. The attack left Rushdie blind in one eye. His recent interview marks the launch of his documentary Knife, directed by Alex Gibney, which recounts the attack and is based on his book of the same name. One critic described the film as "intensely upsetting, inspiring and affecting." In the interview, Rushdie also shared personal anecdotes, including his love story with his fifth wife, American poet and photographer Rachel Eliza Griffiths, who is nearly 30 years younger. He described their meeting as a "cute" Hollywood-style encounter when he walked into a plate-glass door. Rushdie also reflected on the challenges faced by immigrants in modern Britain, criticizing political rhetoric against them and defending their contributions. He expressed a personal grudge against a Margaret Thatcher-era minister who accused him of comparing the UK to Nazi Germany. Rushdie admitted to never having read Middlemarch by George Eliot, calling it his "biggest problem as a reader," and credited British comedian Dick Emery with one of his early creative successes.