'Bulldoze it': Critics aghast at new Trump plan impacting White House

A new report left critics aghast Friday as it claimed donors to President Donald Trump's luxurious new White House ballroom may get their names enshrined in the building "forever."

Trump is building the addition, a project described as the most significant renovation of the White House since Harry Truman. The ballroom is planned as part of a 90,000-square-foot expansion of the East Wing, will cover about 25,000 square feet and seat up to 900 guests.

The estimated cost is around $200 million, and Trump has vowed he'd pay for the addition, though it is being funded privately by Trump and donors. CBS News reported Friday that special incentives were under consideration for wealthy elites willing to pony up for Trump's pet project. Among the options: having their names "etched inside the White House forever," or having their names placed on a website. A final decision has not been made.

Predictably, critics were none too happy with the news, with many dubbing it a "pay-to-play" scheme.

Jesse Lee, former senior communications advisor to the National Economic Council under Joe Biden, wrote on X, "Trump not content to have his own private cesspool of pay-to-play corruption at Mar-a-Lago, is turning the White House into Mar-a-Lago North. Next Dem president should bulldoze it."

Jim Swift, senior editor at The Bulwark, joked on X, "Carl's Jr. has an opportunity to do the funniest thing: put a bow on the Idiocracy. #broughttoyoubycarlsjr."

Nick Field, a political and culture writer, questioned on X, "What happens after one of these people is inevitably revealed to be a Jeffrey Epstein-like person?"

Timothy Cama, political reporter at E&E News, joked on X, "What part of the ballroom could be named after NextEra? Wrong answers only."

Digital content manager Ryan Grannan-Doll called the move a "blatant violation of the Hatch Act."

Editor Tom Mallory shared a photo on X of the definition of "bribery."