Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton found herself at the center of social media mockery on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, after criticizing President Donald Trump’s construction of a massive ballroom at the White House. The backlash came swiftly as critics reminded Clinton of a decades-old controversy involving furniture she and former President Bill Clinton took from the Executive Mansion when they departed in 2001.
Clinton expressed her displeasure with the demolition work that began Monday on the East Wing, which is being renovated to accommodate Trump’s 90,000-square-foot ballroom project. Taking to social media Tuesday morning, she shared an image of demolition crews dismantling the facade and wrote: “It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it.”
The post immediately triggered a wave of responses from conservatives and Trump supporters who recalled the 2001 incident. When the Clintons left the White House, they took approximately $28,000 in furnishings that had been provided by donors and were designated as White House property, according to reports from that time. The couple later paid $86,000 to the federal government for other gifts they had received.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz responded directly to Clinton’s post, stating that at least Trump didn’t steal the silverware. Writer Mark Hemingway made reference to allegations that the Clintons offered overnight stays in the Lincoln Bedroom to high-dollar donors in exchange for campaign contributions. Alex Pfeiffer, a former White House staffer, quipped sarcastically that a Clinton would never defile the White House.
The 2001 controversy centered on what the Clintons described as a cataloging error. At the time, they explained that gifts did not leave the White House without approval from the usher’s and curator’s offices. Hillary Clinton added then that all items were considered gifts to them based on the permanent record of the White House, but pledged to honor the donor’s intention if it differed from what they understood.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle responded forcefully to Clinton’s criticism on Wednesday. He stated that failed presidential candidate and former first lady Clinton stole furniture from the White House on her way out until she was forced to return it, calling her shameless and a total disgrace. Ingle emphasized that Trump is restoring the White House to its proper glory for Americans to enjoy for generations at no expense to taxpayers.
Eric Trump also weighed in on the controversy, suggesting the ballroom would be spectacular, unlike Clinton’s work in Haiti. Donald Trump Jr. told Clinton she might want to “sit this one out,” referencing the furniture and silverware she had to return.
The ballroom project is being entirely funded through private donations and, according to Trump, will not cost taxpayers any money. The facility, officially called the White House State Ballroom, is expected to accommodate up to 1,000 seated guests when completed and will cost between $300-350 million. Construction is scheduled to finish before Trump leaves office in 2029.
Some observers pointed out that White House renovations are routine when new administrations take office. Journalist Salena Zito noted that almost every president has undertaken renovations, including the Clintons, who featured their 1993 White House updates in a House Beautiful spread. She also clarified that the East Wing facade being demolished is not part of the original structure, having been added in 1942 during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency.
The project has sparked debate about presidential authority over White House modifications and the building’s historical significance. Trump described the initiative as completely separate from the White House itself, noting the East Wing is being fully modernized and will be more beautiful than ever when complete. The demolition work visible in photographs shared across social media showed rubble accumulating as construction crews removed portions of the East Wing’s exterior.
