Karoline Leavitt Crumbles as White House Ballroom Flaws Unveiled
Karoline Leavitt, the 28-year-old spokesperson for former President Donald Trump, expressed strong frustration with a recent article published in The New York Times. The piece highlighted several design issues in the upcoming White House ballroom, which had been under scrutiny by various experts. Leavitt took to X (formerly Twitter) to defend the project and question the credentials of the individuals who contributed to the article.
The article, written by an architect, a fine arts expert, and an urban planning writer, pointed out that the 90,000-square-foot ballroom has “fake windows on the north side,” columns that obstruct the view inside the ballroom, and an “unnecessarily large” rooftop area. Additionally, it noted that some of the stairs lead nowhere, with ground-level staircases appearing disconnected from the ballroom entrance.
Leavitt responded by criticizing the authors, claiming they were “three random people” who had not built anything significant. She defended the project, stating that Trump and his lead architect have constructed world-class buildings globally and that the ballroom is finally addressing a long-standing need for the “People’s House.”
Various design concepts for Trump’s ballroom have been revealed, including a hastily assembled model by a contractor, windows that clash with each other, and a staircase that leads nowhere. What began as a modest addition to the east wing has since evolved into a 650-seat venue. Trump pushed for a larger space, eventually seeking a capacity for 1,350 seats.
James McCrery, a respected conservative architect known for designing Catholic churches, was selected to lead the grand ballroom project. However, he was reportedly surprised by the scale of the undertaking.
Trump also expressed confusion about the permitting requirements he faced in New York, claiming he doesn’t need to comply with them. He told those around him that he can start any project at the White House as quickly as he wishes, saying, “You’re the president of the United States, you can do anything you want.”
The National Capital Planning Commission, which oversees the project, replaced its director with Trump attorney Will Scharf. Scharf approved the demolition of the East Wing without reviewing the proposals, allowing the project to proceed.
Contractors involved in the ballroom project, including McCrery Architects, Clark Construction, and AECOM, allegedly bypassed the standard government bidding process. According to sources, Trump personally selected each contractor and oversaw the terms of each contract, including compensation.
Despite assurances in July that the ballroom would not affect the historic East Wing, which previously housed the first lady’s office, Trump had already authorized plans to demolish it to make room for the new ballroom.
McCrery Architects initially envisioned a venue with towering ceilings and arched windows reminiscent of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
The design included advanced security features, such as bulletproof glass, and gold furnishings, which are a signature preference of the president. Trump acknowledged criticism that his ballroom designs were overly lavish, according to the outlet.
During a recent event with project donors, Trump assured them that the new ballroom wouldn’t “dwarf anything.” He also presented plans for a Triumphal Arch, offering three size options: small, medium, and large. “I happen to think the large looks by far the best,” he said.
The White House has stated that the $400 million price tag for the new ballroom will be covered by private funding from Trump’s billionaire associates.
