Donald Trump fuels outrage as $200m White House ballroom project continues during US government shutdown
Donald Trump has fuelled outrage online as his multimillion-dollar White House ballroom project continues during the recent US government shutdown.
As part of his nine-figure plan to restore the White House, the 79-year-old Republican made the controversial decision to adorn several sections of his residence in gold, which many have branded as utterly 'tacky'.
His team first announced the renovations a few months back (31 July), sharing that a staggering $200 million (£150m) would be plied into the construction of a brand new ballroom.
One section of the announcement read: "The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honouring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance."
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According to CNN, the latest additions came just weeks after Trump began adding 'gold piece after gold piece' to sections of the residence, 'including tiny gold cherubs over the doorway' to the Oval Office in the major renovation.
In response to the news, whilst some critics feared that the elaborate renovations formed part of Trump's plan to remain in the Oval Office for a third term, others were astounded by the way that the money was being spent.
Such backlash hasn't stopped, especially after the US government shut down on Wednesday (1 October).
As per ABC, a White House official said that despite the shutdown, 'there will not be a stoppage of ballroom work when the shutdown occurs'.
"Work will continue to be performed as the funds currently supporting are not tied to a FY26 enacted appropriation," the White House official said, per the outlet.
It's the first time this has happened since 2018, during Trump's first term as president, after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach an agreement on a funding plan before yesterday's deadline.
This is because these federal agencies depend on their funding being approved by Congress to then allow for the President to sign budget legislation for the financial year ahead.
However, as both political parties are pushing for different things and neither is backing down, both proposals that would have funded the government past yesterday (30 September) failed in the Senate, and neither was put into action.
Democrats were pushing to stop the Medicaid cuts and extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, while Republicans instead wanted a 'clean' funding bill without those additions.
After catching light of the news that, despite the government shutdown, the pricey White House renovation would continue while non-essential functions of government are going to be frozen and workers will be furloughed, or even laid off, critics rushed to social media to call out the controversial move.
One Instagram user hit out: "Making America great again, one tacky square foot after another."
"If this isn’t a huge slap in the face of struggling Americans, what is then??" penned a second, while a third chimed in: "I just want affordable healthcare."
A fourth declared: "There’s a very clear display of priorities here."
"Right because it’s such a priority to have a tacky gilded ballroom when people literally can’t afford basic needs," slammed a fifth, as another fumed: "Tacky a** ballroom smh what a joke."
PEOPLE reports that, according to a White House Office of Management and Budget memo, the ballroom's construction is being privately funded by Trump and other private donors, meaning that it is not impacted by the federal budget negotiations that brought about the shutdown.
Tyla has reached out to the White House for further comment.
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News
Rhiannon Ingle