President Donald Trump criticized CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins over the weekend after she questioned the rising cost of the under-construction White House ballroom, responding in a post on his social media platform on Saturday.
Why It Matters
The planned $300 million White House ballroom has become a flashpoint in Washington, drawing scrutiny from lawmakers, preservation advocates, and members of the public who worry about its scale, cost, and potential impact on the historic character of the presidential residence.
What To Know
Trump took aim at Collins in a Truth Social post on Saturday, writing:
“Caitlin Collin’s of Fake News CNN, always Stupid and Nasty, asked me why the new Ballroom was costing more money than originally thought one year ago. I said because it is going to be double the size, and the quality of finishes and interiors has been brought to the highest level.”
He continued:
“Also, the column SPAN has been substantially increased for purposes of viewing. It is actually under budget and ahead of schedule, as my jobs always are. It’s just much bigger and more beautiful than originally planned. Interestingly, and seldom reported, there are no taxpayer dollars involved. It is being fully paid for by private donations.”
The remarks followed questions about the ballroom’s cost, according to Raw Story.
In October, Trump said the renovation would cost “about $300 million,” an increase from the $200 million estimate that the White House released in July, previously reported by Newsweek.
In a letter sent this summer to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) emphasized that the planning and decision-making process for the roughly 90,000-square-foot space, which is being financed through private funds, “must be transparent and open to public input” because of the White House’s “symbolic importance.”
Democratic officials have likewise raised concerns and criticized the scope and timing of the project.
The administration has pushed back, dismissing objections as “manufactured outrage” from “unhinged leftists and their Fake News allies,” and has framed the ballroom as a “bold” and “necessary” upgrade to maintain the “executive residence as a beacon of American excellence.”
What People Are Saying
An October press release from the White House stated: “For more than a century, U.S. Presidents have been renovating, expanding, and modernizing the White House to meet the needs of the present day.”
It added: “Now, in 2025, President Trump is carrying forward that legacy, breaking ground on a grand ballroom—a transformative addition that will significantly increase the White House’s capacity to host major functions honoring world leaders, foreign nations, and other dignitaries.”
Commentary has been divided. Meghan McCain, political commentator and daughter of the late Republican Senator John McCain, criticized the timing on X in November, writing: “White House renovations are normal. A $300 million dollar ballroom during a shutdown? That’s a choice.”
What Happens Next
Trump has selected Shalom Baranes to replace James McCrery II as the project’s lead architect, Newsweek reported on Friday.
The White House has said that construction on the ballroom is expected to be completed “long before the end of President Trump’s term.”
