When most world leaders use social media, it’s to make statements about policies or global affairs. President Donald Trump, however, decided to show off something very different — the lavish 24-karat gold details that now decorate parts of the White House.
On Sunday night, the 79-year-old president posted a silent video panning over golden trimmings, moldings, and decorations, claiming that visiting dignitaries are stunned when they see the glittering interiors.
The Gold Makeover of the White House
According to reports, Trump enlisted his longtime “gold guy” to help revamp the presidential palace when he first took office in January.
Since then, the Oval Office, Cabinet Room, and other areas have been filled with shimmering gold accents and ornate trinkets.
In his Truth Social post, Trump boasted:
“Some of the highest quality 24 Karat Gold used in the Oval Office and Cabinet Room of the White House.
Foreign Leaders, and everyone else, ‘freak out’ when they see the quality and beauty.
Best Oval Office ever in terms of success and look!!!”
Social Media Pushback
Not everyone was impressed by the display. One viral TikTok video mocked the décor by showing how similar items could be purchased from Home Depot and spray-painted gold for a fraction of the cost.
Trump dismissed that claim earlier this year, insisting to Fox host Laura Ingraham that imitation paint could never truly replicate real gold.
Still, critics online called his display “grotesque,” especially given the country’s challenges.
Project Liberal’s Joshua Reed Eakle wrote that the contrast between Trump’s gold-plated trinkets and his policies — such as cutting healthcare funding and imposing tariffs — “couldn’t be scripted any better.”
Others pointed out the United States’ $37 trillion national debt, accusing Trump of flaunting luxury while ordinary Americans struggle with rising grocery and utility costs.
Criticism Over Timing
The timing of the post made the backlash even sharper.
Just hours earlier, tragedy struck in Michigan when 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford carried out a violent attack at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc.
Sanford rammed his car into the building, set it on fire, and opened fire on worshippers, killing at least four people and injuring eight more before police shot him dead.
In the wake of the incident — as well as another mass shooting in North Carolina the night before — critics slammed Trump for posting about gold while families were grieving.
One user wrote: “Multiple mass shootings over the last 24 hours and Donald Trump is online bragging about the amount of gold in his office.”
Another mocked Vice President JD Vance’s statement that the administration was “monitoring things,” saying: “Monitoring? No, Trump is busy bragging about his 24kt gold.”
The Debate Continues
The White House has not yet commented on the backlash.
But the debate over Trump’s taste in décor — and his decision to broadcast it at such a sensitive moment — continues to divide opinion online.
For some, it’s simply the latest example of the president’s flair for showmanship.
For others, it’s a tone-deaf move that highlights a growing disconnect between the country’s leadership and the struggles of everyday Americans.