Former MSNBC host Joy Reid recently faced criticism after delivering a broadcast that inaccurately claimed taxpayer funds were being used to finance President Donald Trump’s new White House ballroom. In reality, the $300 million project is being entirely funded through private donations from individuals and corporations, including companies like Google, Amazon, and Comcast.

Reid’s remarks also linked the construction to the ongoing government shutdown, suggesting that essential services like food stamps were being cut while the ballroom project proceeded. However, the White House clarified that the renovation is privately funded and is not impacting federal budgets or services.

This incident highlights the importance of verifying information before making public statements, especially on platforms with wide-reaching audiences. While Reid’s intentions may have been to draw attention to government priorities during a shutdown, her inaccurate claims have contributed to misinformation surrounding the White House renovation.