Former Mets star Lenny Dykstra called horror author Stephen King a “hypocrite” and an expletive in an online clash over President Donald Trump’s controversial $250 million White House ballroom project, which has resulted in the demolition of the East Wing.
King, the author of titles such as “IT” and “The Shining,” wrote a post on X early Thursday, criticizing Trump for moving forward with the 90,000-square-foot ballroom that Trump said would hold 999 people.
“Trump’s destruction of the East Wing is part of a pattern,” King said. “Because he never has to stand for election again (at least, under normal Constitutional rules), he is like a gleeful toddler, not toilet trained, (bleep) everything he can reach.”
Dykstra, the three-time All-Star who also spent time with the Phillies, responded by quote-posting King, sharing a 2010 CNN video that detailed a four-year, $376 million renovation project under former President Barack Obama.
“The hypocrisy is never ending,” Dykstra posted. “Remember the outrage over the 376 million dollar renovations under Obama???? Me neither (expletive).”
At the time of this writing, King had not responded to Dykstra’s comment.
The CNN video that Dykstra shared was an excerpt from a longer interview.
According to CNN reporter Suzanne Malveaux’s report, the project aimed to upgrade several structural features, including pipes that were more than 100 years old, as well as electrical, HVAC, fire alarm and other systems critical to the structure’s operation.”
The report also stated that electrical outages and telephone line issues occurred at the White House, leading to the renovations. It was projected to cost #376 million, though the final cost is unclear.
In 2009, Obama and his wife, Michelle, adapted the White House tennis court into a basketball court and added a kitchen garden. According to a February 2009 New York Magazine story, they paid for the project themselves, declining to use the $100,000 that Congress appropriates to presidents for residence renovations and declining donations, which would have required public disclosure.
Trump says the White House needs a large entertaining space. He has complained that the East Room, currently the largest space in the White House, is too small, holding about 200 people. Several major donors are helping to fund the ballroom, including Google, Apple, Microsoft and Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner and co-chairman Edward Glazer and his wife, Shari.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
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