In brief
President Joe Biden slammed former President Donald Trump’s ambitious renovation plans for the White House during a fundraising gala in Maryland, labeling the ex‑president a 'loser.' Biden criticized the proposed demolition of the East Wing for a new ballroom, the addition of Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center, a personal arch, and a donation to a private pool contractor. He also attacked Trump’s proposal to reimburse supporters of the 2021 Capitol insurrection, arguing it was an unfair use of taxpayer money. Trump has yet to respond to Biden’s remarks, but has previously mocked Biden as a ‘crooked politician.’ The clash follows Biden’s debated 2024 performance that prompted calls from some Democratic figures for him to withdraw from the race.
President Joe Biden railed at former President Donald Trump’s renovation plans, calling him a “loser” during a Democratic fundraiser in Hanover, Maryland.
Biden, who has long criticized Trump’s approach to the White House’s physical estate, accused him of pursuing a series of so‑called vanity projects: tearing down the East Wing to construct a new ballroom, adding his name to the Kennedy Center, building an arch in his own honour, and hiring a private pool contractor to fix the famed Reflecting Pool.
“It’s not just his vanity projects, tearing down the East Wing… putting his name on the Kennedy Center, building an arch in his own honour…”, Biden said, adding, “What a loser.
The former president also condemned Trump’s offer to reimburse supporters of the 2021 Capitol insurrection, arguing it would misuse taxpayer money. Trump has yet to directly respond, but earlier has called Biden a “crooked politician” on social media.
These comments arrive two years after a contentious debate performance that downgrader Biden’s campaign and prompted some Democratic figures to urge him to step aside in favour of their current candidate.
