U.S. President Donald Trump speaks next to first lady Melania Trump during the Congressional Ball in the Grand Foyer at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. December 11, 2025. REUTERS/Al Drago
President Donald Trump took the time to shout out certain Republican lawmakers at the Congressional Ball on Thursday night, but passed up the chance to tout some of his Cabinet secretaries, fearing they'd face jeers.
Trump was delivering remarks at the annual White House Congressional Ball, in which the president hosts for members of the House and Senate.
The ball is a standing White House tradition where the president and first lady host lawmakers from both parties to celebrate the holiday season and recognize Congress’s role in governing. While it's typically billed as a bipartisan social event, it occurs amid ongoing legislative and political disputes.
And on Thursday, Trump snubbed his own Cabinet, fearing just that.
After praising House Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Whip Steve Scalise, Trump called out Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
But that was it.
"We got 'em all here. Every single one," the president touted. "I won't call them out because they're not names that are going to get any huge applause from this very substantially Democrat[ic] audience. But you know what, they're working toward making America great again. It's very simple."
The snub comes amid reports Trump may be preparing to clean house in 2026, starting with three major Cabinet officials, including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and embattled Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth.