Donald Trump lashes out at female reporter after admitting ballroom costs doubled
Topics: Donald Trump, Social Media, News, Politics, US News
Madison Burgess
Featured Image Credit: Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Social Media, News, Politics, US News
Donald Trump has once again come under fire for hitting out at a female reporter, this time after she questioned him on the mounting costs of his new ballroom.
The US President, 79, has faced backlash a number of times for the way he’s spoken to women, most notably calling a female reporter 'piggy' last year and telling another journalist she’s ‘ugly inside and out,’ prompting widespread outcry.
The latest interaction that raised eyebrows took place on Tuesday (12 May) when Trump was about to depart Washington, D.C., for Beijing, China on Air Force One.
He gave the press an update on his lavish new White House ballroom, which was initially predicted to cost $200 million but has since climbed to $400 million.
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The Republican leader tore down the East Wing to make way for it and has since revealed that it will also house a ‘massive underground military complex’.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, he declared, “We have a ballroom that’s under budget, it’s going up right here.
“I’ve doubled the size of it because we obviously need that. And we’re right now on budget, under budget, and ahead of schedule.”
However, a journalist jumped in to point out that he doubled the budget, to which Trump quickly cut her off and seemingly leaned down to her eye level.
He raged: “I doubled the size of it, you dumb person.”
Before adding: “I doubled the size. You are not a smart person.”
The Daily Beast has identified the reporter as MS Now’s White House Correspondent, Akayla Gardner.
The clip has quickly done the rounds on social media and prompted some angry responses on X, with one user writing: “WTAF. Somebody stand up to this dictator wannabe. #NoKings.”
A second and third quipped: “Trump insults another female reporter” and “And the other reporters not standing up, again, makes me sick also.”
“Trump absolutely lost it when a female reporter asked him about the cost doubling for his ballroom,” wrote a fourth.
And a fifth chimed in with: “Trump just now in the midst of his spew of lies and factually incorrect statements, once again insulted a female reporter, calling her a “stupid person.” What a pig!”
“Once again, Trump berates and insults a female reporter,” added a sixth, while a seventh quipped: “Another day, another female reporter Trump attacks.”
Trump has consistently defended the high price tag associated with his ballroom, saying the decision came 'after deep-rooted studies' and decisions made to build it at 'a far higher quality than the original proposal, which would not have been adequate to handle the necessary events, meetings, and even future Inaugurations,' as reported by The Independent.
The US President wrote: “The original price was 200 Million Dollars, the double-sized, highest quality completed project will be something less than 400 Million Dollars. It will be magnificent, safe, and secure.
"Actually, it is coming in ahead of schedule and under budget! Thank you for your attention to this matter."
Tyla has contacted the White House for comment.