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Ah, the White House—where the ghosts of scandals past waltz eternally with the drama of the present. On a recent episode of Fox News' Outnumbered, the panel dove headfirst into the Democratic dust-up over President Donald Trump's latest architectural fever dream: turning a chunk of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue into a ballroom big enough to host the entire cast of Dancing with the Stars... plus their egos.
In a plot twist straight out of a Capitol Hill soap opera, the Trump administration fired back at ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after she mustered her Twitter troops to torpedo the Prez's 90,000-square-foot privately bankrolled bash palace. Their weapon of choice? A dusty 2001 doozy, accusing the former First Lady of absconding with White House swag like it was Black Friday at the Smithsonian.
"Failed presidential candidate and former First Lady Crooked Hillary stole furniture from the White House on her way out until she was forced to return it," White House spokesman Davis Ingle spilled to Fox News Digital on Wednesday, with the relish of a gossip columnist at high tea. "Crooked Hillary is shameless and a total disgrace."
"Meanwhile, President Trump is restoring the White House to its proper glory for Americans to enjoy for generations to come — at no expense to the taxpayer — something we should all celebrate," Ingle added, because nothing says "unity" like dredging up old linen lists.Clinton, never one to let a renovation go unchallenged, had taken to the digital barricades earlier that October, rallying the masses against Trump's ballroom bonanza—a taxpayer-free extravaganza aimed at shoehorning a mega-entertaining space into the people's palace.
The Trump administration took a shot at former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after she rallied Americans to reject President Donald Trump's White House ballroom construction project. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)
"It’s not his house," Hillary Clinton wrote on X Tuesday morning. "It's your house. And he's destroying it."
Oh, the irony—it hit faster than a dropped soufflé. Conservatives across the spectrum dusted off their 2001 highlight reels, replaying the tale of the Clintons' exit-stage-left luggage lift: an estimated $28,000 in donor-provided White House doodads that got packed up, only to boomerang back after the inventory elves cried foul. The power duo also forked over $86,000 to Uncle Sam for other inaugural swag, all chalked up to a "cataloging error" that sounds suspiciously like "oops, my bad" in legalese.
"Gifts did not leave the White House without the approval of the White House usher's and curator's offices," the Clintons declared in a 2001 statement, the verbal equivalent of crossing fingers behind their backs. "Of course, if the White House now determines that a cataloging error occurred ... any item in question will be returned."
When I asked Grok "did the Clintons take furniture and other things from the Whitehouse" the AI replied:
Yes, there was a well-documented controversy in early 2001 when Bill and Hillary Clinton left the White House, during which they took several pieces of furniture, artwork, and other household items that were later determined to belong to the government or were disputed by donors. However, the situation is nuanced: many of the items were personal gifts they were legally entitled to accept and keep under federal rules (which allow presidents to retain gifts valued over $375 after disclosure), while others were intended as donations to the White House residence and were returned voluntarily after media scrutiny and donor clarifications.Key Details from Investigations and ReportsWhat Was Taken? Upon departing, the Clintons shipped out about 950 items worth roughly $360,000 in total, including furniture (e.g., sofas, chairs, rugs, and tables valued at around $68,000 overall, with $38,000 kept initially), china, silverware, artwork, lamps, and other household goods. Some furniture had been donated specifically to the White House in 1993 for tax deductions by donors, but the Clintons treated them as personal property based on a 1994 White House Counsel memo.
Returns and Payments: In February 2001, following New York Times and Washington Post reports, the Clintons returned over $28,000 worth of disputed furniture and artwork (about 25 items, including sofas, a table, lamps, and a rug) to the National Park Service, which oversees White House furnishings. They also paid the government $86,000 to reimburse for other personal gifts received in their final months in office. Later that year, two minor items (a $1,725 easy chair and a $675 ottoman) were returned to the Clintons after NPS determined they hadn't been officially accepted as White House property.
So take that in your wet cigar, Hill and Bill.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton slammed President Donald Trump's construction project at the White House to build a ballroom. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The backlash ballroom? It was a conservative conga line. Lawmakers and meme lords piled on, turning Clinton's tweet into a piñata party.
"At least he didn’t steal the silverware," Texas Sen. Ted Cruz posted to X Tuesday, because nothing disarms a dig like a dash of utensil-based shade.
"Hi Hillary, Remind us, wasn’t it you who walked off with $28,000 in White House furniture when you moved out?" conservative influencer Benny Johnson posted to X. "And your husband who defiled the Oval Office during his presidency? President Trump’s funding a beautiful new ballroom out of his own pocket."
"A Clinton would never defile the White House," former White House staffer Alex Pfeiffer shot back in response, dripping sarcasm thicker than White House gravy.
Fox News Digital pinged Clinton's camp repeatedly for a encore on her ballroom beef and the furniture fiasco mockery, but crickets echoed louder than a empty State Dinner hall.
Meanwhile, over in the demolition derby, the White House had already swung the wrecking ball at the East Wing to make room for Trump's terpsichorean triumph. (The Associated Press) Trump himself broke the glittery ground on Monday, because why whisper when you can trumpet?
"I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!"
"For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc.," President Donald Trump said. (Getty Images)
"For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc. I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American Taxpayer!" he continued. "The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly. This Ballroom will be happily used for Generations to come!"
And just like that, the East Room gets an upgrade, the furniture files get a flip, and Washington waltzes on, proving once again that in politics, the only thing more enduring than a grudge is a good grudge match with a side of sequins.
"At least he didn’t steal the silverware," Texas Sen. Ted Cruz posted to X Tuesday, because nothing disarms a dig like a dash of utensil-based shade.
"Hi Hillary, Remind us, wasn’t it you who walked off with $28,000 in White House furniture when you moved out?" conservative influencer Benny Johnson posted to X. "And your husband who defiled the Oval Office during his presidency? President Trump’s funding a beautiful new ballroom out of his own pocket."
"A Clinton would never defile the White House," former White House staffer Alex Pfeiffer shot back in response, dripping sarcasm thicker than White House gravy.
Fox News Digital pinged Clinton's camp repeatedly for a encore on her ballroom beef and the furniture fiasco mockery, but crickets echoed louder than a empty State Dinner hall.
Meanwhile, over in the demolition derby, the White House had already swung the wrecking ball at the East Wing to make room for Trump's terpsichorean triumph. (The Associated Press) Trump himself broke the glittery ground on Monday, because why whisper when you can trumpet?
"I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!"
"For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc.," President Donald Trump said. (Getty Images)
"For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc. I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American Taxpayer!" he continued. "The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly. This Ballroom will be happily used for Generations to come!"
And just like that, the East Room gets an upgrade, the furniture files get a flip, and Washington waltzes on, proving once again that in politics, the only thing more enduring than a grudge is a good grudge match with a side of sequins.
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