Gavin Newsom trolls Leavitt's 'horror' at White House toilet amid shutdown
Karoline Leavitt was left 'horrified' after discovering a toilet in the White House, with the bathroom since being renovated by President Donald Trump
California Governor Gavin Newsom has blasted White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's response to discovering a White House restroom as President Donald Trump unveiled fresh renovations to the iconic residence.
Trump took to social media to announce the modifications as millions of Americans braced to lose food stamp benefits. The president shared before-and-after photos of the revamped Lincoln Bathroom on Truth Social, providing a glimpse at the makeover.
"I renovated the Lincoln Bathroom in the White House. It was renovated in the 1940s in an art deco green tile style, which was totally inappropriate for the Lincoln Era. I did it in black and white polished Statuary marble. This was very appropriate for the time of Abraham Lincoln and, in fact, could be the marble that was originally there!" the president wrote.
Responding to the alterations, Leavitt wrote: "When I first learned a toilet like that existed inside the White House, I was horrified".
"President Trump is making the People's House more elegant and beautiful for generations of Americans to come!", reports the Irish Star.
However, her comment, which emerged as 40 million Americans faced losing their benefits, drew ridicule from many.
California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote: "Letting Americans starve doesn't horrify them. Letting healthcare costs triple doesn't horrify them. Letting our troops go unpaid doesn't horrify them.
"A toilet does. "
Pictures reveal a pristine bathroom, entirely decked out in marble with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The bathroom's fixtures, including the tub and sink faucets, are adorned with gold-toned hardware.
Another snapshot showcases a walk-in shower with a door trimmed in gold.
Earlier this month, Trump spoke about the renovation project at the White House. "The bathroom was done by the Truman family a long time ago and done in green tile, and it's done as - in a style that was not exactly Abe Lincoln," he commented.
"It's a style that is not good ... it is actually art deco and art deco doesn't go with 1850 and civil wars.
"So, I ripped it apart and we built a bathroom that's absolutely gorgeous and totally keeping in that time because the Lincoln bedroom is so incredible for those of you who have seen it," he added.
This announcement comes as Trump has made significant structural changes to the White House to accommodate his controversial $300 million ballroom initiative, funded by private donors.
Trump's social media posts about the opulent bathroom renovations also come on the heels of 25 states filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration for suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
These states are pushing for the administration to tap into an approximately $6 billion emergency reserve fund for SNAP.
The United States Department of Agriculture has issued a warning that SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps, will run out for millions of Americans come November 1. Over 40 million Americans rely on these benefits to help put food on the table.