Former Vice President Kamala Harris has delivered one of her most forceful rebukes yet of President Donald Trump, blasting him for moving forward with a $350 million White House ballroom project while millions of Americans risk losing food assistance amid a government shutdown.
During an episode of The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart released Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, Harris didn’t hold back.
“Are you f—ing kidding me?” she exclaimed, her voice rising as she condemned Trump’s decision to prioritize “a ballroom for his rich friends” while “babies are gonna starve” due to the looming cutoff in SNAP benefits.
The U.S. government faces a potential shutdown that could delay or suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for roughly 41.7 million Americans.
For many low-income families, that means the difference between eating and going hungry.
Trump, meanwhile, has reportedly been overseeing the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make room for a lavish ballroom, an estimated $350 million project said to be funded by private donations. The president has defended the renovation as a patriotic upgrade, but critics see it as a glaring symbol of misplaced priorities.
“Even if not one dime of government money is being used,” Harris said, “it’s about what this moment says. When families are struggling to buy milk, bread, and eggs, why is the national conversation about chandeliers and marble floors?”
Harris’s comments struck a nerve on social media, where clips of her interview quickly spread across platforms. Many users echoed her frustration, noting that a shutdown threatens essential programs like SNAP, WIC, and school meal funding.
The controversy underscores a broader question about values and leadership: What message does it send when luxury projects advance while basic needs are neglected?
Harris urged Democrats not just to define themselves in opposition to Trump, but to articulate what they stand for — particularly in defending working families from economic hardship.
“This isn’t about politics,” she said. “It’s about priorities. You can’t claim to love America while letting its children go hungry.”
Her fiery critique may reignite a long-running debate over class inequality and political optics.
The issue, Harris argues, isn’t whether the ballroom is privately funded but what it represents at a time when Americans are counting every dollar to feed their families.
