Hillary Clinton Criticizes Donald Trump's Gold White House Renovations

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized President Donald Trump's extensive renovations to the White House, comparing the gold-embellished decor to the palaces of dictator Saddam Hussein. Speaking on the Pivot podcast, Clinton described the changes as a reflection of Trump's "narcissistic personality" and called a proposed East Wing ballroom a "carbuncle on the side of the White House."

Since returning to office in 2025, Donald Trump has added gold detailing to the Oval Office and West Wing. He also installed a Presidential Walk of Fame in the Rose Garden, which features plaques about former presidents written by the president himself. Beyond the White House, Trump is pursuing other District of Columbia projects, including refurbishments to the National Mall reflecting pool and a 250-foot triumphal arch across the Potomac River.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle responded to the criticism by stating that Clinton never had the opportunity to decorate the Oval Office because she suffered a "humiliating defeat" in the 2016 election.