President Donald Trump's privately funded $200 million White House ballroom is the latest "bold, necessary addition" to the executive residence, officials said, describing the East Wing construction as a continuation of presidential upgrades dating back more than a century.

Photos of the East Wing façade being demolished went viral Monday, prompting criticism online and a swift rebuttal from the White House, which wrote that "unhinged leftists and their Fake News allies are clutching their pearls over President Donald J. Trump’s visionary addition of a grand, privately funded ballroom … a bold, necessary addition that echoes the storied history of improvements and additions from commanders-in-chief to keep the executive residence a beacon of American excellence."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the president's message Tuesday on "Jesse Watters Primetime," saying, "I believe there’s a lot of fake outrage right now.

HILLARY CLINTON FIRES UP VOTERS AGAINST TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION: 'NOT HIS HOUSE''

"Nearly every single president who’s lived in this beautiful White House behind me has made modernizations and renovations of their own," Leavitt added. "In fact, presidents for decades — in modern times — have joked about how they wished they had a larger event space here at the White House, something that could hold hundreds more people than the current East Room and State Dining Room. 

"President Obama even complained that, during his tenure, he had to hold a state dinner on the South Lawn and rent a very expensive tent."

In an article shared Tuesday, the administration listed more than a dozen examples of leaders "renovating, expanding and modernizing" the property to "meet the needs of the present day," from Theodore Roosevelt’s West Wing in 1902 to Barack Obama’s Kitchen Garden in 2009.

Trump first confirmed the ballroom project Monday on Truth Social, writing, "I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken … to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom. Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernized … and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!"

"For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom … 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, crediting "many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and yours truly" for funding the build. "This Ballroom will be happily used for Generations to come!"

The White House's Rapid Response 47 account also shared a detailed thread on X Tuesday showing how past presidents "have been renovating, expanding, and modernizing the White House to meet the needs of the current day."

TRUMP BREAKS GROUND ON MASSIVE WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM PROJECT WITH PRIVATE FUNDING FROM 'PATRIOTS'

Trump elaborated Tuesday, calling the federal government "this big for nothing." 

"We’re building a world-class ballroom," he said. "You probably hear the beautiful sound of construction to the back here. That’s music to my ears. People don’t like it. I love it. When I hear that sound, it reminds me of money. In this case, a lack of money, because I’m paying for it."

Trump also noted that the East Room, currently the largest indoor event space, is little more than "a cocktail area" that holds about 88 people.

During a Diwali event at the White House Tuesday night, Trump again referenced the project and his decision not to accept a salary, quipping that "they probably owe me a lot of money" for everything he’s put into the building.

"If I get money from our country, I’ll do something nice with it. Like give it to charity or give it to the White House," he said. "We restore the White House, and we’re doing a great job. The ballroom is under construction. They’ve been trying to get it for 150 years."

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The ballroom project is the latest in Trump's improvements to the property, which include an overhaul of the Rose Garden and the Palm Room.

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton gave New York Giants rookie Jaxson Dart his flowers following an epic come-from-behind win for the Broncos on Sunday. 

But Payton wanted to face the veteran Super Bowl champion quarterback the Giants have behind Dart, Russell Wilson. 

"They found a little spark with that quarterback," Payton said of Dart during his post-game press conference after the 33-32 victory for Denver. "I was talking to [Giants owner] John Mara not too long ago, and I said we were hoping that change would’ve happened long after our game."

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While Payton could’ve simply meant Dart gave his team problems – the Giants held a 26-8 lead late in the fourth quarter before a thrilling comeback – Wilson didn’t appreciate the words from his former Broncos coach. 

These two have obvious history, and Wilson viewed his former head coach’s comments as "classless."

"Classless… but not surprised… Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media," Wilson posted on X with some laughing emojis and his famous #LetsRide hashtag he used while a member of the Broncos from 2022-23. 

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Wilson’s "bounty hunting" comment is also a jab at Payton’s scandal while head coach of the New Orleans Saints. The NFL found Payton’s squad guilty of placing a bounty on targeted players, leading to the head coach’s season-long suspension in 2012 as part of the severe punishment from the league. 

The relationship between Wilson and Payton was rocky, to say the least, after the former was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Broncos in 2022. It didn’t last long for Wilson, as Payton benched him in 2023, and he was released during the 2024 offseason despite Denver taking on a whopping $85 million in dead money. 

Wilson ended up going 11-19 in his starts for Denver with playoff appearances. 

Wilson certainly wasn’t happy with his benching in 2023, especially as he said the Broncos threatened to bench him earlier that year if he did not waive an injury guarantee in his contract. Wilson had $37 million guaranteed if he could not pass a physical on the fifth day of the new league year in March 2024. 

Greg Penner, the Broncos’ owner and CEO, denied the team ever threatened Wilson. He said they wanted to negotiate "in good faith" about contract adjustments, though Wilson said he would be getting the NFLPA involved. The NFLPA later sent a letter to the Broncos stating that any threat would be a violation of the league’s CBA. 

Still being paid by the Broncos, Wilson signed a veteran minimum deal for one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then, the Giants signed Wilson this past offseason, as well as Jameis Winston, to provide veteran presence around Dart, who New York traded back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to snag out of Ole Miss.

Head coach Brian Daboll made it clear all through training camp that Wilson was the starter for his team, but after just three straight losses to open the season, the switch was made to Dart. He went on to win his first NFL start in a massive upset over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Broncos’ AFC West nemesis, at MetLife Stadium in Week 4. 

Dart and the Giants should’ve been victorious in Denver, too, but a collapse of epic proportions ensued with Wil Lutz drilling a game-winning field goal to cement the biggest comeback win this season in the NFL. 

It remains Dart’s offense for the foreseeable future with Wilson backing him up in New York. 

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