On Thursday night’s episode of The Daily Show, guest host Michael Kosta took direct aim at President Donald Trump’s controversial White House ballroom project — and, like many other late-night hosts this week, didn’t hold back.

As images circulated showing major portions of the East Wing in ruins, Kosta skewered Trump’s earlier promise that the expansion wouldn’t touch the historic structure. What was once pitched as a tasteful, self-funded addition has now ballooned into a full-blown teardown — and Kosta had jokes ready for every brick.

“This guy has taken 15 years to give us a healthcare plan,” Kosta said. “But in three and a half days, he’s demolished half the White House. That’s efficiency — just in the wrong direction.”

“This Is All Happening So Fast”

The segment opened with a reference to Trump’s original ballroom announcement earlier this year, when the president claimed the new event space would be separate from the existing White House, built with private funding, and would not alter the historic architecture.

But that narrative collapsed this week when drone footage and news photos showed significant damage to the East Wing — prompting immediate backlash from preservationists, political opponents, and late-night comedians.

“When he started, he promised that it would be separate, wouldn’t touch the East Wing,” Kosta said. “He even said it would be, quote, ‘strictly over the pants.’”

With a perfectly timed pause, Kosta added: “Then, this week, there was a minor change to the plan… when Trump ripped open the side of the East Wing like it had a Labubu inside.”

The audience burst into laughter at the obscure toy reference — a nod to the current obsession with collectibles and chaotic unboxings, now compared to the president’s architectural habits.

“This Is a Rental”

But beyond the jokes, Kosta made a serious point — one that resonated with viewers on both sides of the aisle.

“Holy [expletive], man. This is a rental. You don’t get to rip down walls in a place you’re just living in for a few years,” he said, gesturing toward a graphic of the partially demolished East Wing. “Can you imagine someone moving into an Airbnb and immediately busting out a jackhammer?”

The line drew some of the night’s biggest laughs, as Kosta continued to hammer home the absurdity of turning a national landmark into a personal pet project.

The Model… and the Overcompensation

Then came the miniature model — a scale rendering of the proposed ballroom that Trump reportedly showed to press earlier this week. According to images aired during The Daily Show, the ballroom appears to be nearly double the size of the White House itself.

Kosta pounced.

“I don’t know a lot about architecture,” he said. “But I do know a thing or two about overcompensating for a small penis.”

The audience roared, and Kosta didn’t let up. “At this point, the only thing missing from the model is a hot tub on the roof and a neon sign that says ‘King Lives Here.’”

White House Calls It “Manufactured Outrage”

While comedians have been having a field day, the official White House response to the controversy has been dismissive. In a brief statement, the administration called the backlash “manufactured outrage,” insisting that “the president is making necessary upgrades to accommodate a new era of American diplomacy and hospitality.”

But critics say the demolition of a historic part of the East Wing — which houses offices, the First Lady’s workspace, and event spaces — goes well beyond what was originally proposed.

Architectural historians have already raised concerns, with some calling for a temporary halt to the project until independent oversight can be applied.

Colbert Also Joins the Fray

Kosta wasn’t the only one roasting the ballroom project this week. On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert accused Trump of “going Hulk smash on the White House” in a fiery Tuesday night monologue.

“Trump promised to add a ballroom,” Colbert said. “Instead, he’s demolishing a piece of American history with the energy of a toddler building a pillow fort.”

With both The Daily Show and The Late Show hitting the same topic, it’s clear that the ballroom project has become the latest flashpoint in Trump’s highly theatrical second term — a symbolic gesture of power that’s drawing fire from all corners, including comedy.

Final Thoughts: A Joke That’s Becoming Very Real

While Michael Kosta’s tone on The Daily Show was humorous, the segment highlighted a serious underlying question: What happens when a temporary resident treats the White House like personal property?

The East Wing — a part of American history — is being altered in ways that might not be reversible. And while Trump’s supporters see the ballroom as a bold legacy-building move, critics and comedians see it as a reckless project built on ego and spectacle.

The blueprints may look grand, but the response so far has been far from celebratory.

And as Kosta so perfectly summed it up: “It’s all fun and games until someone bulldozes a national monument.”