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Lil Wayne is backing one of President Donald Trump’s most talked-about White House projects.
The rap icon praised Trump’s plan to build a massive White House ballroom during an appearance Monday on the “Friends Keep Secrets” podcast, arguing that the new venue would eliminate the need for performers to be pushed outside during major events.
“I’m so glad to hear what Trump said when they were mad at him about building the ballroom and he said, ‘Because everything we do, we have to do on the damn lawn,'” said Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.
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The rapper praised Trump’s plan for the White House ballroom, saying he was glad to hear the president pushing for an update. (Greg Doherty/Getty Images for 2K; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“So people who don’t know anything hear this thinking he’s just Trump – no, actually, I was glad to hear him say it,” he added.
Wayne’s praise stemmed from a memorable performance he gave at then-Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2023 celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary.
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Lil Wayne said Kamala Harris’ 2023 hip-hop anniversary performance was like a “backyard barbecue.” (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)
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The event took place at Number One Observatory Street, where the rapper said it felt like he was attending a “backyard BBQ.”
Trump has repeatedly called the ballroom a long-overdue upgrade for the White House, arguing that it will become a permanent indoor venue for state dinners, diplomatic receptions, speeches and other major events and will improve security for high-level gatherings.
Lil Wayne said he was confused when he arrived at the show, admitting he thought he was heading to the real White House. (Erica Goldring/Getty Images)
In a Truth Social post in May, Trump said the ballroom on the East Side of the White House was “growing rapidly” and denied reports of a sharp increase in costs.
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President Donald Trump shows off designs for the proposed White House ballroom during a call with reporters. (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg)
He argued that the project only increased in price because it was redesigned to be “about twice the size and of much higher quality than the original proposal,” which he said “would not be sufficient to accommodate the necessary events, meetings and even future inaugurations.”
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Trump said the original proposal cost $200 million, while the expanded project “will cost less than $400 million.”
“It will be great, safe and reliable!” Trump wrote, adding that the ballroom is “coming ahead of schedule and on budget!”
Stephanie Jung-Paunon is an entertainment columnist for Fox News Digital.