Trump Fires Architect Over White House Ballroom Size Clash
President Donald Trump speaks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the Oval Office, Monday, October 20, 2025, before a bilateral meeting. Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok. Public domain.
Donald Trump's $300 million White House ballroom project has hit a major snag, with the president reportedly dumping the architect he personally chose amid growing tensions over the size and scope of the ambitious expansion. Sources say Trump and James McCrery II, the original architect, clashed over the ballroom's dimensions, with McCrery warning that the planned 90,000-square-foot addition would overshadow the 55,000-square-foot White House itself. The drama adds fuel to an already controversial project that has seen the demolition of the historic East Wing to make way for the massive new space.
A Clash Over Size and Vision
The ballroom project, initially envisioned as a grand but manageable addition, ballooned into a mammoth undertaking that has raised eyebrows across Washington. McCrery II, whose firm is known for designing large-scale cathedrals, reportedly urged Trump to reconsider the ever-expanding plans. According to The Washington Post, cited by Mediaite, McCrery cautioned that the ballroom's size risked dwarfing the White House itself, a warning that apparently did not sit well with the president.
The tension between Trump and McCrery II culminated in the architect stepping down from leading the project in late October. Trump has since appointed Shalom Baranes, a veteran architect with decades of experience designing and renovating government buildings in Washington, to take over. Baranes's firm has worked on notable projects including the main Treasury building and the General Services Administration headquarters.
Despite the shake-up, McCrery II reportedly remains involved in a consulting capacity, with White House officials emphasizing that this is a "passing of the baton" as the project moves into new phases, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Demolishing East Wing for a Ballroom
The ballroom's size is not the only source of controversy. To accommodate the expansion, the entire East Wing of the White House was demolished, a move that has sparked backlash from preservationists and political observers alike. The East Wing, which houses the first lady's offices and dates back to 1942, was initially said to be only "modernized" and "near but not touching" the new ballroom, as reported by the Daily Mail. However, by October, Trump acknowledged that the existing structure had to be taken down to "do it properly."
This demolition represents the most significant change to the White House since President Harry S. Truman's complete reconstruction in 1948. The scale of the project and the removal of a historic section of the building have raised questions about the long-term impact on the White House's architectural integrity and historical significance.
Deadlines and Donors
Sources familiar with the project say that McCrery II's firm struggled to meet the demanding deadlines set by Trump, whose second term is scheduled to end in January 2029. The president reportedly wants the ballroom finished by then, a timeline that some insiders describe as aggressive given the project's scale.
The cost of the ballroom has also soared, climbing from an initial estimate of $200 million to $300 million. Trump insists that he and his billionaire friends will cover the expenses, with big tech donors such as Amazon and Google reportedly contributing to the project.
A Ballroom Fit for an Inauguration
Trump's vision for the ballroom has grown alongside its price tag. What was once planned as a 500-seat room has reportedly expanded to accommodate 999 people, making it potentially large enough to host a presidential inauguration. This upsizing has been a sticking point for McCrery II, who warned that the extension should not engulf the building it is meant to complement.
The White House has kept many details about the project under wraps, and it has not undergone any official public review. The secrecy and scale of the ballroom have only added to the project's contentious nature.
New Leadership, Same Ambition
Shalom Baranes, the new lead architect, brings a wealth of experience in government projects. The White House praised Baranes as an "accomplished architect whose work has shaped the architectural identity of our nation's capital for decades," as reported by the Daily Beast.
Construction crews have continued preparing the site under Baranes's leadership, with recent activity reportedly including the erection of a towering crane in a concrete paddock. The project is moving forward, but the drama surrounding its size, cost, and impact on the White House's historic fabric remains front and center.
What's Next for the Ballroom?
The replacement of McCrery II with Baranes signals a new chapter in the ballroom's development, but it also highlights the challenges of managing a project of this magnitude within the White House grounds. The demolition of the East Wing and the ballooning size and cost have drawn criticism and raised concerns about the project's long-term implications.
As the ballroom inches toward completion, questions linger about how it will fit into the White House's storied history and whether the grand vision will ultimately justify the upheaval it has caused.
For now, the ballroom remains a symbol of ambition and controversy, with its future shaped by the architects, donors, and political forces behind it.
References: Trump Replaces White House Ballroom Architect Amid Tensions | Trump Fires Ballroom Architect Who Said It Was Too Big | Trump replaces White House ballroom architect after arguing about size of new building
