Ex-GOP strategist flags hidden message buried in Trump's 'grotesque' White House addition

A former GOP strategist flagged what he said could be a hidden message in a Trump post featuring an AI-generated image of a golden eagle statue on the White House facade. The image, shared Monday night, depicts the eagle holding a red, white and gold shield surrounded by 11 stars, and Trump called it a “golden gift” for the White House’s 250th birthday year, suggesting the statue could be brought to life. Steve Schmidt, co-founder of the conservative anti-Trump Lincoln Project, criticized the design on X Tuesday, arguing that the 11 stars do not match the typical 13 stars associated with the original U.S. colonies. He claimed the number 11 represents the Confederate States formed by 11 states that seceded between 1861 and 1865. The post drew additional scrutiny given Trump’s prior controversies involving Confederate-related symbolism.