In brief
During a Democratic Party fundraiser in Hanover, Maryland, President Joe Biden lambasted former President Donald Trump’s high‑profile renovation projects throughout Washington, DC. He accused Trump of tearing down the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom, adding his name to the Kennedy Center, and hiring a private pool specialist for the Reflecting Pool. Biden added a punchy remark that Trump was a “loser” while criticizing the use of public funds for these expenses. The remarks shocked many attendees, sparking a sharp political back‑lash from Trump’s camp. The event has reignited tensions between the two leaders as the 2024 campaign ramps up.
At a Democratic Party fundraiser held on Saturday weekend in Hanover, Maryland, President Joe Biden delivered a harsh attack on former President Donald Trump, accusing him of pursuing “vanity projects” across Washington, DC.
Biden slammed Trump’s recent plans to demolish parts of the East Wing of the White House to construct a luxurious ballroom, criticize his attempt to rename the Kennedy Center after himself, and hire a private pool specialist for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. “It’s just his vanity projects… tearing down the East Wing… putting his name on the Kennedy Center… building an arch in his own honour… even hiring his own pool guy to fix the Reflecting Pool,” he said, adding that Trump was a “loser.”
The former president’s comments came amid controversy over the costs of those projects—$400 million for the ballroom and $14.7 million for the pool restoration—an effort that has sparked lawsuits and questions about the use of public funds. Trump, who had earlier defended the renovation as necessary for national security and state hospitality, has not responded directly to Biden’s remarks, while continuing to refer to his rival as a “crooked politician” on social media.
Coinciding with the anniversary of Trump’s rally at the 2021 Capitol, Biden also criticized the former president’s stance that taxpayers should be reimbursed for individuals who claim they were targeted by the government. That proposal was later dropped and blocked by a judge.
The heated remarks from Biden erupted two years after a poor debate performance that had prompted many Democrats to call for his withdrawal from the 2024 race, ultimately leading Vice‑President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee before losing to Trump.
