White House Calls Jack White a “Washed-Up Has-Been” Over Oval Office Decor Dig; Rocker Fires Back

The White House sharply rebuked Jack White after the rocker critiqued the Oval Office’s refurbishment under President Donald Trump’s second term, with a senior aide dismissing him as a “loser.”

In comments to the Daily Beast, Communications Director Steven Cheung accused White—who had lambasted the room as “vulgar, gold-leafed and gaudy”—of being a “washed-up, has-been” wasting his time on social media due to a stalled career.

“He’s masquerading as a serious artist,” Cheung added, “yet he disrespects the splendor and historical significance of the People’s House.”

White had posted an Instagram photo of Trump with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on August 18, writing, “Look at how disgusting Trump has transformed the historic White House.” He continued, “Would you buy a used car from this conman, let alone entrust him with nuclear codes? What an embarrassment to American history.”

Following Cheung’s remarks, the 12-time Grammy winner reposted the statement on Instagram, branding the Communications Director a “professional liar” and accusing the administration of focusing on superficial distractions instead of substantive policy critiques. “How petty and thin-skinned could this administration get?” he wrote. “‘Masquerading as a real artist?’ Trump is masquerading as a human being—masquerading as a Christian, a leader, a person with actual empathy.”

White shared images of the president showcasing gold sneakers, endorsing Goya products, and displaying shelves of red “Make America Great Again” hats, warning, “This man is a danger to not just America, but the entire world. He’s dismantling democracy and endangering the planet on a daily basis.”

Jack White has long been outspoken about Trump, previously labeling him an “obvious fascist” and “wannabe dictator” after the 2024 election. He and his former bandmate sued over the unauthorized use of “Seven Nation Army” in a Trump social media post, and during a March concert, he mockingly altered the opening line of “Corporation” to lampoon the twice-impeached president’s unearned authority.

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