President Donald Trump has initiated the construction of a new 90,000 square foot ballroom at the White House, sparking a wave of responses across social media platforms. Joy Reid, a former MSNBC commentator known for her critical stance on the President's actions, voiced her disapproval of the project through her social media channels, emphasizing the perceived misallocation of funds that could instead support healthcare and federal workers.
Reid, whose show "The ReidOut" was canceled during a major overhaul at MSNBC in February, has turned to social media to share her perspectives. In a recent post, she juxtaposed the construction of the ballroom with the lack of funding for food stamps and federal worker salaries, questioning the priorities of the Trump administration. She shared a video of the East Wing being demolished, commenting, "People are going to run out of food stamps. That’s going to create a crisis of hunger across this country... No money to pay the TSA agents keeping you safe or the air traffic controllers to make sure your planes don’t crash. No money for that."
However, Reid's claims were quickly addressed by conservative voices on social media, particularly a post from Libs of TikTok, which stated that President Trump is using personal funds and private donations to finance the ballroom, not taxpayer dollars. The post accused Reid of either being misinformed or deliberately misleading, stating, "The ballroom is 100% funded by Trump and private donors. She’s either extremely dumb or a liar, or the more likely option: BOTH."
The Trump administration has defended the addition of the ballroom as a necessary enhancement for hosting diplomatic functions, explaining that the White House currently lacks the facilities to honor world leaders without resorting to temporary and visually unappealing solutions. A press release detailed the specifications of the State Ballroom, highlighting its capacity to seat 650 people, a significant upgrade from the 200-person limit in the current East Room.
Further context was provided by the White House, which cited historical precedence for such renovations. Thirteen presidents, including Trump during his first term, have undertaken extensive refurbishments. The White House also referenced modifications made during former President Barack Obama's administration, such as the conversion of the south-grounds tennis court into a basketball court, which went without criticism from Reid.
McCrery Architects has been announced as the lead architect for the project, ensuring that the design and craftsmanship will align with the historical significance of the White House.
