Clinton and Obama on White House redo
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The gist
Former presidents Obama and Bill Clinton ridiculed Trump's White House renovations, including a new ballroom and helipad.
The jabs came 10 days before midterms, tying the building work to cost-of-living politics.
Background
Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are former US presidents; Donald Trump is the current president, whose renovation projects were the target of their remarks. Trump's changes include replacing the Rose Garden's central lawn with limestone paving for outdoor events and adding an upgraded granite helipad with the presidential seal. The ballroom project is intended to give large official events a permanent, secure space instead of temporary tents, a need a National Park Service environmental assessment traces to a 2000 White House planning document. The remarks landed 10 days before the midterm elections.
How it unfolded
- 2025The Rose Garden's central lawn was replaced with limestone paving for events, with the traditional roses kept around the perimeter.
- Sep 21, 2026Official photographs showed Marine One using a new granite White House helipad with the presidential seal during a ribbon-cutting.
- Oct 20, 2026Bill Clinton spoke while campaigning with Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly in Hollywood, Florida.
- Oct 24, 2026At a Cleveland midterm rally for Ohio Democratic candidates, Obama mocked Trump's renovations, including the State Ballroom construction.
Who’s saying what
- Obama
- Obama said Trump seems focused on home renovations, joked the White House looks like 'Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory,' and argued Trump is not focused on lowering prices.
- Clinton
- Bill Clinton said Trump made the Rose Garden 'look like the entrance to Liberace's bathroom.'
- White House
- A representative for the White House did not immediately respond to TheWrap's request for comment.
Still unverified
Subcontractors have alleged they are owed money (amount not given in the sources) in connection with the Obama Presidential Center.