Clinton, Obama slam Trump’s White House renovations as president fires back

WASHINGTON, DC: Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump’s White House renovations during Democratic campaign appearances on Saturday, October 24. They took aim at changes to the presidential residence, including the paved Rose Garden, extensive gold decor and a planned ballroom.

Clinton made his remarks while campaigning for Democratic Florida gubernatorial candidate David Jolly, while Obama addressed a rally supporting Democratic candidates in Ohio. Trump later dismissed their criticism, saying the former presidents were critical because Republicans had defeated them in elections.

Bill Clinton mocks Trump's Rose Garden renovation

Clinton criticized the transformation of the White House Rose Garden, which Trump had paved over in 2025 and furnished with tables beneath yellow-and-white striped umbrellas.

The garden has hosted presidential events and press conferences for decades. In 1994, it was the setting for Clinton's meeting with Israeli and Jordanian leaders to sign the Washington Declaration.

“I think Congress made a mistake not protesting turning the Rose Garden into what looks like the entrance to Liberace's bathroom,” Clinton said.

Trump has defended the renovation, arguing that the previous grass lawn often became wet and difficult to walk across.

“This is really the new Rose Garden, look how beautiful it is, with the White stone that matches the White House,” the president said at an event in July.

Barack Obama mocks Trump's White House gold decor

Hours after Clinton’s remarks, Obama also criticized the renovations, joking that Trump should work for the home-improvement television network HGTV.

“I mean, I don't know if you've noticed, but he seems very focused on home renovations,” Obama said. “He should be on HGTV. Guy's building a ballroom that's bigger than the White House. He's paved over the Rose Garden. Put a helicopter pad on the South Lawn and, and there's gold everywhere. What's up with the gold? Everything, more gold!”

Obama also mocked the gold decor, comparing the White House's appearance to a restaurant.

“like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory!” he said.

The renovations include a planned ballroom on the South Lawn, following the demolition of the White House East Wing.

Obama criticizes Trump as president responds to former presidents

Beyond the renovations, Obama accused Trump of prioritizing personal and family interests over issues such as living costs and fuel prices. The former president also alleged that Trump's administration had enabled corruption and criticized Republicans in Congress for failing to hold the president accountable.

Trump was later asked to respond to the criticism from Clinton and Obama. He said the former presidents were critical because Republicans had defeated them.

“They're critical because we've beaten them,” Trump said.

The president also repeated his claim that he had won the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to former President Joe Biden.

“And then I ran and I won in 2016, and I won in 2020 too, but it didn't work out that way. It was a rigged election, but I won by millions of votes,” Trump said.

Trump also called Obama “a lousy president” and said he had been caught up in “a lot of scandals.”