WASHINGTON (TNND) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his press office took a few jabs at President Donald Trump’s plan to construct a $200 million ballroom at the White House, as well as mocked his press secretary, on social media.
Newsom’s team shared a photoshopped image that featured Effie Trinket, a popular character in The Hunger Games franchise portrayed by Elizabeth Banks, in place of Karoline Leavitt.
The picture showed Trinket appearing to hold renderings of the ballroom in the White House press room, just as Leavitt did during a news conference on Thursday.
While all the Districts pay extra for groceries and everyday goods, the White House is excited to announce that the Capitol is creating a grand ballroom for opulent parties!” according to the post.
Newsom’s staff also quoted the book-to-film franchise.
May the odds be ever in your favor!!!”
Another post from Newsom’s team claimed Trump and his administration are “more interested in defending its ballroom than the 17 millions they kicked off health care.”
Newsom himself chimed in with a post of his own. It included a link to the White House’s announcement for the ballroom.
Oh thank god — this is what the American people were desperately pleading with you to do!” Newsom shared on X.
The criticism didn’t stop there, as Newsom and his staff shared other posts about Trump and his administration.
Others also posted about the ballroom, with one person sharing an AI-generated photo of Trump dressed like Marie Antoinette — wig and all.
‘We need to re-decorate the ballroom for 200 Million Dollars!’– Donald Antoinette Trump,” according to the post.
Another added that Trump spent $1B on “an airplane none of us will ever fly on” and will now build a $200 million ballroom “none of us will ever dine in, but we can’t ‘afford’ to feed hungry kids.”
Some people defended Trump, with one saying, “Gavin is so jealous.” Several others noted that the ballroom is not being funded by taxpayers.
Leavitt previously said Trump — and other donors — will provide the money to build the ballroom, which is slated to cost approximately $200 million.
She said construction of the 90,000 square-foot White House State Ballroom will start in September.
For 150 years, presidents, administrations, and White House staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed,” Leavitt said during a news briefing.President Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people,” she added.
Leavitt said while the White House is “one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world,” it doesn’t have a space where it can host major functions to accommodate world leaders and other countries “without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance.”
She said the ballroom will change that, as it will have a seated capacity of 650 people, adding that’s “a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House.”
Leavitt said while the ballroom will be separate from the main building, “it’s theme and architectural heritage will be almost identical.”
She said Trump selected McCrery Architects as the lead architect, with the the engineering team to be led by AECOM.
Presidents in the modern era have faced challenges hosting major events at the White House because it has been untouched since President Harry Truman,” CEO Jim McCrery said in a news release posted on the White House’s website. “I am honored that President Trump has entrusted me to help bring this beautiful and necessary renovation to The People’s House, while preserving the elegance of its classical design and historical importance.”
The release also included renderings of the ballroom, including the interior and exterior, as well as noted the ballroom is expected to be finished “long before the end of President Trump’s term.”
The ballroom is among a few other changes Trump is making to the White House during his second term. He already added flagpoles to the North and South Lawns, as well as started repaving the Rose Garden. That project is expected to be finished in August.