White House Undergoes $250M Ballroom Expansion Amidst Controversy

President Trump has initiated the demolition of the White House's East Wing to build a $250 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom, despite earlier promises that the construction would not touch the existing building. Stephen Colbert criticized this project as a lie and highlighted that the Treasury Department, located next to the demolition site, has instructed employees not to share photos of the construction, suggesting the administration is aware of the project's unpopularity. Colbert described the destruction as "deeply unsettling" and mocked the president for focusing on this vanity project rather than on his campaign promise to reduce inflation and grocery prices. Seth Meyers also chimed in, calling the ballroom project the ultimate "bait and switch," since Trump had campaigned on making life more affordable for Americans but is now prioritizing personal luxury. Additionally, Colbert condemned recent racist messages from a Trump nominee for the Office of Special Counsel, Paul Ingrassia, emphasizing that such extremist views have no place in public service. Overall, the ballroom construction has sparked significant criticism from late-night hosts who see it as emblematic of Trump's broken promises and misplaced priorities.