President Donald Trump’s plan to overhaul the East Wing with a massive new ballroom is running into more problems than anyone around him expected. Earlier this year, he confirmed that architects were hired and private donors were providing the money for the project, which the administration has described as a long-term upgrade meant for future global meetings.
But The Washington Post is reporting that the project has hit a rough stretch, mostly because Trump has been far more involved in the design than originally thought. His hands-on approach has reportedly created tension with architect James McCrery II, who was brought on to guide the project.
Read Also: Nancy Pelosi slams Donald Trump as the worst thing on Earth and blames him for breaking democracy
Reporters Jonathan Edwards and Dan Diamond wrote that Trump’s idea of what the ballroom should look like led to frequent meetings with McCrery and his team. They explained, “Trump’s intense focus on the project and insistence on realizing his vision over the objections of his own hire, historic preservationists, and others concerned by a lack of public input in the project reflect his singular belief in himself as a tastemaker and obsessive attention to detail.
“In the first 10 months of his second term, Trump has waged a campaign to remake the White House in his gilded aesthetic and done so unilaterally — using a who’s-going-to-stop-me ethos he honed for decades as a developer.”
Administration officials backed that up, saying Trump has “veered into micromanagement” throughout the process.
The ballroom is scheduled to be finished before his term ends in 2029, but the constant design revisions and meetings have slowed progress. According to the Post, “Multiple administration officials have acknowledged that Trump has at times veered into micromanagement of the ballroom project, holding frequent meetings about its design and materials. A model of the ballroom has also become a regular fixture in the Oval Office.”
Read Also: Kamala Harris Calls Donald Trump a ‘Tyrant,’ Says Billionaires Seek Proximity to Power
The White House has defended the idea, saying the new space is needed for major events and official gatherings. But Democrats and preservation groups argue the demolition and speed of construction are unnecessary and risky for the historic property.
Senator Elizabeth Warren introduced a Stop Ballroom Bribery Act aimed at placing limits on private donations used for White House construction. The $200 million price tag is currently being covered by what the administration calls “patriot donors,” including Trump himself.
Senator Richard Blumenthal criticized the fundraising effort sharply. “President Trump has put a ‘for sale’ sign on the White House—soliciting hundreds of millions of dollars from special interests to fund his $300 million vanity project. Our measure is a direct response to Trump’s ballroom boondoggle,” he said. The project may still move forward, but the growing political and architectural pushback shows it will be anything but smooth.
READ NEXT
- Trump ally in Indiana resigns from leadership role after redistricting fight divides party
- Trump regret grows louder as voters say the economy is worse than when he took office
- “I Was an Idiot” Trump Voter Breaks Down After ICE Arrests His Wife Despite His Support
- ‘Cost of Living Is Killing Us’: Voters Signal Trouble for Republicans in the 2028 Presidential Race
- Inside the COVID Fraud Case where Taxpayer Money funded Private Villas and Cash Stacks