MaddowBlog-Trump taps new ballroom architect for $300 million White House vanity project

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Whether the president will ever devote this much attention to governing and policymaking is unclear.

As Trump hires another ballroom architect for his White House vanity project, a question hangs overhead: Will he ever devote this much attention to governing and policymaking?

I think we know the answer. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-05T14:04:30.667Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-taps-new-ballroom-architect-for-300-million-white-house-vanity-project

Behind the scenes, more troubles emerged. Trump handpicked architect James McCrery, who runs a small firm known for its work designing Catholic cathedrals, and soon after started to expand his ambitions. The New York Times reported, “What started as a 500-seat ballroom connected to the East Wing grew to 650 seats. Next, [the president] wanted a 999-seat ballroom, then room for 1,350....

When the shambolic process did not sit well with McCrery, it became time to bring in a new architect. NBC News reported:

The White House has brought in a new architect to work on President Donald Trump’s ‘vision’ for his massive $300 million ballroom project, officials said Thursday.

Shalom Baranes, head of Shalom Baranes Associates, has ‘joined the team of experts to carry out President Trump’s vision on building what will be the greatest addition to the White House since the Oval Office — the White House Ballroom,’ White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement.

.....Regardless, it seems likely that the president’s new architect should prepare himself for an endeavor in which Trump will be guiding his hand, ensuring this vanity project — a wildly unnecessary addition that will sit empty for most of the year and will only be used occasionally by the hyper-elite — meets his evolving standards.

Whether the president will ever devote this much attention to governing and policymaking is unclear.

[JI7]

1. Isn't this something you would do before you tear anything down ?

[C_U_L8R]

2. If anyone ever wondered why Trump buildings are so butt-ugly

Now they know.