Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is under fire for claiming the Trump administration is prioritizing a $250 million White House ballroom over keeping the government running, as the shutdown approaches its one-month mark.
On Monday, Walz announced $4 million in emergency funding for food shelves while taking aim at President Trump and Republicans for the ongoing impasse. He cited White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, saying, “They are choosing not to fund these programs … and when the White House press secretary said the top priority is the ballroom, we could not disagree more.”
But Leavitt’s comments were made in response to a reporter asking about renovations at the White House, not the government shutdown. She explained that while Trump is “a builder at heart” and always thinking about improvements, the ballroom is simply one of his personal projects.
The Republican National Committee called Walz out for spreading what they called a “Democratic lie,” and Leavitt herself posted on X, writing bluntly, “Stop lying, Tampon Tim.”
The ballroom, which will be funded by Trump and private donors—not taxpayers—has become a political lightning rod. Designed to hold roughly 650 guests, it will follow the White House’s classical style and is seen by supporters as a celebration of American tradition.
Still, critics, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, argue it highlights the administration’s misplaced priorities. “Meanwhile, the cost of living is way too high and the Republican healthcare crisis threatens millions of Americans,” Jeffries said on X.
PolitiFact also weighed in, noting that Walz’s claim that the ballroom is the administration’s top priority is false.
The debate over the lavish $250 million project comes as Americans continue to feel the impact of a government shutdown that shows no signs of ending soon.
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This poor press secretary is going to have his hands full putting out fires because of the anger Americans are feeling about Trump\’s EGO project! Walz is an up-and-coming voice in the new Democratic Party. He does not speak for the Old Democrats but the new, younger Democrats who are tired of the old Same-Old approach of the Democrats. How far he\’ll go I haven\’t a clue, but he is giving a voice to many younger people who have felt kept out of the Party\’s decision making for too long. Hence, we get two Trump presidencies!! Hopefullyu, Congress will have the fortitude to kill this ugly ego project before our historic capitol is destroyed.Prof SchlatterGambier OH
This fool is a walking fruitcake. If he was in my party I would insist he shut up ge has NO future in politics. He\’s a nut.