Trump's Tense Exchange with Reporters Over Ballroom Costs

In a recent White House media briefing, Donald Trump clashed with reporters, particularly two female journalists, while defending the costs of a proposed ballroom project. The president insisted the project was under budget, despite rising expenses. This confrontation highlights ongoing tensions between Trump and the media, especially female reporters, as he faces scrutiny over his administration's economic policies and the funding of the ballroom project. Trump's remarks have drawn criticism and raised questions about transparency and accountability in government spending.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 13, 2026, 04:18 IST

Trump Defends Ballroom Project Amid Criticism

During a recent media briefing at the White House, Donald Trump found himself in a heated exchange with reporters, particularly targeting two female journalists while justifying the expenses associated with a proposed ballroom project and his administration's economic strategies. This confrontation occurred on Tuesday as Trump prepared to leave Washington for a summit in China. Akayla Gardner from MS NOW pressed the president on the ballroom's costs, drawing parallels to the financial overruns at the Federal Reserve, which Trump has previously condemned. Gardner pointedly asked, "You wanted Jerome Powell fired for cost overruns; how does that compare to your ballroom and the reflecting pool?" In response, Trump insisted that the ballroom project was "under budget" and "ahead of schedule," claiming, "I've doubled the size of it because we obviously need that." When Gardner attempted to interject about the rising costs, Trump interrupted her, stating, "I doubled the size of it, you dumb person! Doubled the size! You are not a smart person."

The White House's Rapid Response team later shared a clip of this interaction on social media, labeling Gardner's inquiries as "fake news." Abigail Jackson, a spokesperson for the White House, dismissed claims that Trump's remarks were influenced by Gardner's gender, stating, "President Trump has never been politically correct and has always been transparent, which is why many Americans re-elected him. This is not about gender; it reflects the current low trust between the public and the media." In another part of the same event, a different female reporter questioned Trump about the recent inflation rate, which has climbed to 3.8% amid tensions with Iran. Trump defended his economic policies, asserting, "It's working incredibly," and reiterated his administration's position on Iran, stating, "We had a choice: let these lunatics have a nuclear weapon. If you want that, then you're a stupid person. And you happen to be. I mean, I know you very well."

This latest confrontation is part of a series of contentious interactions Trump has had with female journalists this year. Recently, he labeled Norah O'Donnell from CBS News as "horrible" and criticized Rachel Scott from ABC News as "one of the worst reporters." Earlier in the year, he also made disparaging remarks about Jessica Tarlov, Kaitlan Collins, and other female reporters. The ballroom project itself has faced scrutiny due to escalating costs, with the administration initially estimating the 90,000-square-foot ballroom would cost around $200 million last July, only for Trump to later claim the price had surged to approximately $400 million. He has consistently stated that the funding for this project would come from private donations, not taxpayer dollars.