Calling Him a Loser, Biden Criticizes the Lengths Trump Went to for His Personal Legacy in DC While the Public Was Left Footing the Bill
‘It's not just his vanity projects.’
Joe Biden didn’t hold back this weekend, calling Donald Trump a “loser” over his high-profile, and expensive, renovation projects in Washington, D.C. According to BBC, speaking at a Democratic Party fundraiser in Hanover, Maryland, on June 27, 2026, Biden criticized Trump’s plans to build a ballroom at the White House, his attempt to slap his name on the Kennedy Center, and the botched $14.7 million refurbishment of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Biden’s critique wasn’t just about the money, though. He framed these projects as pure vanity, pointing out that Trump even hired his own pool guy to fix the Reflecting Pool, which has since been plagued by algae and other issues.
“It’s not just his vanity projects, tearing down the East Wing of the White House making room for his ballroom, putting his name on the Kennedy Center, building an arch in his own honour, even hiring his own pool guy to fix the Reflecting Pool,” Biden said. Then came the mic drop: “Whoa! What a loser.” It’s rare to hear Biden go this hard in public, but the crowd at the fundraiser ate it up.
Trump’s team has pushed back on the criticism
It argued that the $400 million ballroom project is necessary for national security and hosting state guests. But the Reflecting Pool debacle has been harder to defend. After the $14.7 million renovation, the pool turned into a green mess, with officials blaming vandalism for the problems.
Biden didn’t stop at the physical projects, either. He also took aim at Trump’s handling of the January 6 Capitol riot, accusing him of wanting to use taxpayer money to compensate the insurrectionists. “What makes me angry is that Trump wants to give taxpayers’ money, your money, to the January 6th insurrectionists,” Biden said.
Trump hasn’t directly responded to these latest comments, but he’s not one to stay quiet for long. Last month, he called Biden a “crooked politician” on Truth Social, and just this week, he dusted off his old “sleepy Joe Biden” nickname in another post.
This latest exchange is just the newest chapter in a long-running feud between the two. Biden’s remarks came exactly two years after his disastrous debate performance against Trump, which led to a wave of calls from Democrats for him to step aside. Eventually, Vice President Kamala Harris replaced him as the party’s nominee, but she lost the race to Trump.
Biden’s criticism of Trump’s projects isn’t just about the money
According to The Hill, he said, “The Reflecting Pool reflects something even worse than the narcissism and incompetence at the core of this administration. It’s the corruption, the brazen, blatant corruption. Corruption on a scale never seen before in American history in any administration.” Biden added that Trump has “made billions of dollars since his return to the White House,” adding, “He has no shame. And frankly, it’s embarrassing to the country.”
A CNN survey from June found that 57% of Americans have a favorable view of former President Obama, while only 34% feel the same about Trump and 30% about Biden. It’s a stark contrast, and it shows that public opinion is still very much divided. But with Biden’s health in the spotlight – he’s been battling prostate cancer since leaving office – his public appearances have been fewer and farther between.
After Trump’s marathon State of the Union address in February, he joked about whether Biden was “still talking” days later. But this weekend, Biden was all business, delivering one of his sharpest critiques of Trump yet.
The Reflecting Pool has become a symbol of the larger issues Biden sees in Trump’s administration. Whether it’s the algae blooms or the alleged corruption, it’s clear that Biden isn’t letting any of it slide. And with the 2024 election in the rearview mirror, the political jabs aren’t going anywhere.
Trump’s plans for the White House ballroom and the Kennedy Center name change have faced their own share of legal trouble. A court ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center after it was added without proper approval. The ballroom project, meanwhile, has been defended as a security upgrade, but critics see it as another example of Trump’s love for grandeur.
Biden’s health has been a topic of discussion, too
He’s been open about his battle with prostate cancer, and his public appearances have been limited. But when he does speak, he’s making sure his words count. In October, he delivered a somber speech after completing a round of radiation treatment, saying, “Friends, I can’t sugarcoat any of this. These are dark days.”
At the end of the day, this latest spat is about more than just construction projects. It’s about how public money is being spent, who benefits from it, and what kind of legacy Trump is trying to leave behind. Biden’s “loser” comment might have been blunt, but it’s clear he’s not holding back. And with the Reflecting Pool still looking less than reflective, it’s a story that’s not going away anytime soon.
(Featured image: The White House)
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