Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was publicly criticized by White House Communications Director Steven Cheung on Thursday following an attempt by the congressman to mock President Donald Trump and defend Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
The exchange came after President Trump visited the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington, D.C., to review construction progress on an extensive renovation project.
The renovation, initially budgeted at $1.9 billion, has since increased in cost to $2.5 billion, with the total cost expected to reach at least $3.1 billion, according to Federal Reserve documentation.
During his visit, President Trump confronted Chairman Powell about the ballooning costs, pointing out discrepancies and bringing documentation to support his claims.
Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement
MORE NEWS: Hillary Clinton Resurfaces to Push Old Lies About Voter ID and Election Integrity [WATCH]
Powell responded by denying that the total cost would reach $3.1 billion, but acknowledged that the project has a reserve fund that may be used for additional overruns.
“We’re ready for them,” Powell said.
“We have a little bit of a reserve that we may use.”
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump is OPENLY GRILLING Jerome Powell to his face at the Federal Reserve Building in DC
This comes after Trump found out the total for the renovations are actually $3.1 BILLION“What are all these overruns about?!"Holy CRAP this is an amazing watch 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Dh4ltIXF6p— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 24, 2025
The moment drew national attention after Powell appeared caught off guard by President Trump’s remarks.
This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year
Powell also stated that he does not anticipate further increases, but did not rule them out.
In response to the encounter, Rep. Swalwell posted a photo of Powell looking confused, captioned, “When my wife tells me we’re actually saving money with Rent the Runway.” Rent the Runway is an online subscription service for designer clothing.
When my wife tells me we’re actually saving money with Rent the Runway. pic.twitter.com/7IK6bdIbjD
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) July 25, 2025
The post was intended to mock Trump and suggest that Powell had been baffled by the president’s claims about the renovation costs.
Steven Cheung, who serves as White House Communications Director, responded directly to Swalwell’s post with a reference to the congressman’s past controversies, including his ties to Chinese national Christine Fang, also known as “Fang Fang.”
MORE NEWS: Anti ICE Protesters Play Chicken with a Jeep in Newark, Go Flying into the Pavement [WATCH]
Fang was linked to Chinese intelligence and reportedly developed relationships with several U.S. politicians, including Swalwell, during her time in the United States.
“When you look at a print out of your text exchange with Fang Fang,” Cheung wrote in a quote tweet, referencing the viral image Swalwell had posted.
When you look at a print out of your text exchange with Fang Fang. https://t.co/hXvxJKhIph
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) July 25, 2025
The response drew immediate attention across social media platforms, with users recalling prior reports that Swalwell had been targeted by a Chinese intelligence operation.
Swalwell has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with any criminal activity related to the matter.
The ongoing criticism of Powell’s renovation project comes amid broader concerns about government spending and accountability.
The Federal Reserve headquarters, located on Constitution Avenue in Washington, is undergoing a full-scale modernization effort that includes structural upgrades and the renovation of a nearby secondary building.
The project, which began under Powell’s leadership, has seen costs escalate by more than $1 billion over initial estimates.
Federal Reserve officials maintain that the upgrades are necessary to meet modern safety and operational standards.
Swalwell has not responded to Cheung’s remarks or issued any additional statements regarding the renovation costs or his post.
The Trump administration has continued to scrutinize federal agencies and public spending, particularly in areas where costs have escalated significantly without clear justification.
The Hidden Facts Behind Your Healthcare Costs | The Rob Maness Show EP 675
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.
Swallow was a great disappointment to Chinese intelligence, go figure.
Fang Fang: so solly, he not smalt, he know nothing impoltant.
It’s Hysterical watching Stupid Democrats like Swalwell trying to act all clever, but the thing Democrats don’t realize is USAID isn ’t paying to Cover their Butts any longer with positive and glowing press releases from CNN, MSNBC, Colbert, Jon Stewart, the Idiots on the View. Americans are shoving their BS right back in their Smug, Arrogant, Lecturing Faces. It’ glorious to see and wonderful to Watch!
The democrat party has become a comic show. All of their intelligent people have either died or become so old that their brains have turned to mush like Biden’s.. The party is imploding.
How many more Chinese-influenced or Chinese-compromised politicians do we have to openly know about before holding any of them accountable?
And that doesn’t count the thousands of Chinese “students” that are in our high schools and, worse, higher education programs that influence politics and steal intellectual property. Or the millions of acres of property that are Chinese-owned—right next to key infrastructure (schools, businesses, and military installations).
But, hey, let’s keep bumbling along by allowing a known international threat to continue to operate in our country. And we won’t speak of the “unknown” Middle Eastern threat that runs our country, schools, and media.
Why does Swallowswell always look like an unshaved bum who went on an all nighter?
In school Swalwell was known as ” Jack the let one Ripper” He blew what brains he had out his azz a long time ago.
$3.1B!! I would think you could flatten the previous building and build a new one for a lot less than that, at least if you weren’t using taxpayer money.
Smallballs said in reference to ICE agents, “Real men don’t wear mask”. Hey Smallballs, real men don’t bang Chinese spies.
While fang fang bang bang looks stupid here, he doesn’t top Chucky’s raw cheeseburger grill outing or his vapid (and wrong) lecture on tariffs/corona/avacados. These folks are climbing all over each other for the title of “Most Foolish.”