Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton drew sharp criticism from conservatives after taking aim at President Donald Trump’s plans to host a UFC event at the White House.
According to Fox News, Clinton, who has been a frequent critic of Trump since her 2016 presidential election loss, renewed her objections over the weekend while promoting political merchandise tied to Democratic causes.
“Remember, during today’s literal cage match on the White House grounds: No matter what, it’s not his house. It’s our house. Get a hat, coaster, or sticker to support groups and candidates who will respect the form and the function of the people’s house,” Clinton wrote on social media.
The post quickly sparked a wave of responses from Republican lawmakers, conservative commentators, and political organizations, many of whom pointed to controversies surrounding the Clinton administration.
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., responded by referencing allegations and scandals tied to President Bill Clinton’s years in office.
“They literally rented out the Lincoln Bedroom and don’t forget Bill’s activity in the Oval Office,” Burchett wrote. “The vandalism that went on when you left was also well-documented.”
Bill Clinton’s relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky became one of the most high-profile political scandals of the 1990s. The president famously denied having “sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky” before later admitting the relationship.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson, who served as a military aide carrying the nuclear football during the Clinton administration, also criticized Hillary Clinton’s remarks.
“I was the Air Force [lieutenant colonel] who carried the nuclear football for your husband inside that ‘people’s house’ you’re suddenly so precious about. I saw it all up close for two years,” Patterson wrote in a lengthy social media response.
Several critics also revived claims involving damage and missing items reported during the transition from the Clinton administration to President George W. Bush’s administration in 2001.
A Government Accountability Office review requested at the time by former Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga., estimated roughly $15,000 in damages at the White House. Reports from that period noted some incidents were determined to be intentional pranks, while Clinton allies argued similar issues had occurred during previous presidential transitions.
The latest dispute highlights how even symbolic White House events continue to generate political fights decades after the Clinton presidency ended.
