Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Dan Scavino, has faced criticism after sharing a computer-generated party video showing champagne, confetti and senior political figures celebrating inside the White House.
The clip, posted on Saturday, depicts Scavino in a tuxedo alongside women portrayed as his wife, Erin Elmore, and Lara Trump. The group is shown riding on a gold luggage cart while Eric Trump pushes it through the building.
Pitbull’s “Don’t Stop the Party” plays as champagne sprays and gold confetti falls, before President Trump appears to join the celebration.
The video prompted a backlash from figures on the right, who questioned the decision to publish it while Americans were dealing with the cost of groceries, petrol and mortgage payments.
Conservative activist Carrie Prejean Boller wrote: “You really have no shame, do you?”
Meghan McCain said one of her friends had been unable to afford air conditioning during the summer. Conservative writer Jonah Goldberg sarcastically described the video as “exactly the midterm messaging Republicans need from a top White House official”.
Sarah Longwell, an anti-Trump Republican, was more direct, calling it “real fall of Rome s***”.
Scavino did not withdraw the post. Instead, he shared a second computer-generated party video featuring President Trump, other administration figures and Chinese President Xi Jinping, in an apparent reference to the Hangover films.
He also mocked those who objected to the clips, describing them as “typical nutters” losing their composure over computer-generated content.
