'Weak' Donald Trump slammed as he calls reporter 'dumb' in furious outburst
Fans were raging over the US president's remark.
Donald Trump came under fire after he branded a reporter "dumb" as he defended the soaring cost of his new ballroom project. On Tuesday (May 12), the US president announced that his planned ballroom project had "doubled" in size but insisted it was still under budget.
However, when a reporter pointed out the cost had doubled too, Trump wasn't pleased. "We have a ballroom that’s under budget," he told reporters on the South Lawn. "It’s going up right here. I’ve doubled the size of it because we obviously need that, and we’re right now on budget, under budget, and ahead of schedule." When questioned further, Trump snapped: "I doubled the size of it, you dumb person. You are not a smart person."
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Trump: We have a ballroom that's under budget. I've doubled the size of it because we obviously need that. And we're right now on budget, under budget and ahead of schedule. I DOUBLED THE SIZE OF IT YOU DUMB PERSON! pic.twitter.com/9dHzACTlYe
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 12, 2026
Social media users were furious over Trump's remark, with one hitting out at him on X: "Smh, Trump snapping at the reporter and calling them 'dumb' and 'not a smart person' because they noted the ballroom price doubled after he doubled the size is classic thin skinned deflection.
"If you double the project, the cost going up isn’t some gotcha, it’s basic math. Getting defensive and insulting people over it just makes him look weak and petty. This is the kind of unpresidential reality TV drama we don’t need. Focus on actual governance and results instead of turning every press interaction into a personal insult session."
Another agreed: "There he goes again, demeaning a female reporter. When will the press give this fool some serious pushback for his bad behavior? Whoever did it, would become an instant folk hero."
A third fumed: "He supposedly works for the American people. Imagine if, at any business, the proprietor called you a 'dumb person.' He works for us, not the other way around. I hope every reporter just keeps saying that to him, over and over again.
The president's new White House ballroom project, which he has repeatedly described as a privately funded gift with "zero taxpayer funding", has now been linked to a proposed $1 billion taxpayer-funded security package.
The 90,000-square-foot venue, currently under construction and set to replace the East Wing, was originally presented as being financed entirely through private donations and corporate contributions.
However, administration filings reportedly show the project also includes an underground medical facility and bomb shelter, with the Trump administration arguing the additional security measures became necessary following the recent assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Democrats have accused the administration of misleading taxpayers over the true cost of the project, while Republicans have defended the spending as essential for presidential security.
