Donald Trump has made a significant change to his ambitious $300 million gilded White House ballroom project by replacing the architect who had been overseeing the development for more than three months. The shake-up comes amid reported disagreements over the project's scope and concerns about missed deadlines that have plagued the high-profile construction effort.
Architect James McCrery II and his boutique firm had been leading the massive ballroom project from its early stages until late October, when the decision was made to bring in new leadership. According to sources familiar with the matter, Trump and McCrery clashed on several occasions, particularly regarding the president's desire to expand the already substantial 90,000-square-foot ballroom to an even larger size. However, the primary factors that led to the architectural firm's replacement were the company's limited staffing capacity and their failure to meet crucial project deadlines, which raised concerns about the timeline for completing the ambitious construction.
The circumstances surrounding McCrery's departure remain somewhat unclear, with questions about whether the architect chose to step down voluntarily or was asked to leave the project. Despite any professional disagreements that may have occurred during their collaboration, sources close to the situation indicate that Trump and McCrery maintained a respectful relationship and parted on good terms, suggesting the change was more about practical project management than personal conflicts.
Trump has now selected renowned architect Shalom Baranes to take over as the project's new lead architect, a decision that has received official confirmation from the White House. Baranes brings impressive credentials to the role, having previously worked on several significant federal projects throughout his career, including major renovations and construction work on the main Treasury building located near the White House. This experience with high-profile government buildings makes him particularly well-suited for the complex requirements and security considerations involved in White House construction projects.
White House spokesperson David Ingle issued a strongly supportive written statement praising the selection of Baranes and expressing optimism about the project's future direction. "As we begin to transition into the next stage of development on the White House Ballroom, the administration is excited to share that the highly talented Shalom Baranes 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," Ingle stated in the official announcement.
Ingle continued his praise for the new architect, emphasizing Baranes' extensive experience and deep connection to Washington D.C.'s architectural landscape. "Shalom is an accomplished architect whose work has shaped the architectural identity of our nation's capital for decades and his experience will be a great asset to the completion of this project," he added, highlighting the administration's confidence in their new choice to lead this historic undertaking.
Despite the leadership change, the White House has indicated that McCrery will not be completely severed from the project, as he will continue to serve in a consulting capacity. This arrangement suggests that his previous work and institutional knowledge of the project's early development phases will still be valuable as the construction moves forward under new management.
The ballroom project has not been without controversy since its announcement. In October, Trump faced significant public criticism when satellite images revealed that the East Wing of the White House had been completely demolished to make way for the new ballroom construction. This demolition directly contradicted Trump's earlier public promises that the existing White House building structure would remain untouched during the ballroom's construction, leading to accusations of misleading the public about the project's impact on the historic building.
Further adding to the project's controversial nature, that same month Trump made the dramatic decision to fire all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency responsible for reviewing and approving the ballroom project. The commission also had oversight responsibilities for Trump's proposed "Arc de Trump" monument project in Washington D.C., and their dismissal raised questions about the administration's approach to independent oversight of major construction projects affecting the nation's capital.
