Donald Trump unveils 'golden gift' to White House's 250th birthday

Donald Trump has shared a bold 'golden gift' to the White House to commemorate the 250th birthday, and critics aren't impressed.

The President shared a photo of the sizeable present, captioned "A Golden Gift to the White House for its 250th birthday year!"

The picture shows an enormous, shiny gold bald eagle with wings spanning the balcony the White House, plus a stars and stripes shield.

The official White House X account also reshared the post, which Trump originally put on Truth Social.

Eagle-eyed critics spotted that something was amiss with the image though, suggesting the picture (and the giant shiny gold eagle) isn't real.

They noticed small differences between the the railing of the balcony on the snap, and with the real-life Truman Balcony.

Oddly, the shield also features 11 stars, as opposed to 13.

"A Golden Gift to the White House for its 250th Birthday Year!" - President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/XV2sk6smcf

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 30, 2026

Traditionally, the 13 stars are featured to represent the 13 original colonies which existed at the time of America’s founding.

​Crucially, according to CNN, the image metadata appears to indicate it was created with Google AI.

This wouldn't be the first time Trump has shared AI imagery online, after he was previously criticised for sharing an image which seemed to show him as Jesus.

Elsewhere, a freelance photographer shared images on X of the balcony which he claimed were after Trump posted the image, and the eagle was not there

Of course, it could be that the image is a mock-up or plan that will be revealed nearer the time, but critics have been joking about the design online.

One branded it 'Gold plated from Temu' , adding 'The fourth of July 250 birthday is not about the eagle but Trump like all MAGA doesn't know what the declaration of independence is."

Someone else echoed: "Part of the new temu Liberace outdoors line."

"Why 11 stars?" asked another, as someone else wrote simply: "That is one of the Trumpiest things I've ever seen."

One commenter pleaded: "I'm not against gold gifts. But if I had to choose, I would spend that same money on Americans who truly need help. A nation's most glittering gold is never what hangs on its buildings, but rather the people who live in that nation. What do you think?"

Another slammed: "History is full of fragile men who covered everything in gold to look powerful. It never ages well," while one critic hit out calling it 'tacky'.

Others have been asking for clarification of who the gift is from, as they noted his message didn't state he purchased it.

"From who? And if you are a white house reporter please do not be too scared to ask this" insisted one curious mind.

"Who paid for this?" asked one, "Was it a gift from a foreign country?" asked another.

It comes as Trump also built a huge UFC fighting ring outside the White House ahead of the celebrations.

Tyla has reached out to the White House for comment.