Trump-Appointed Commissioners Push for 3D Models as Elitist White House Ballroom Faces Backlash
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Trump appointees on federal commissions demand 3D models to scrutinize the controversial White House ballroom expansion, raising alarms about its disregard for historic integrity and public input.
In a recent online session, commissioners handpicked by former President Donald Trump voiced apprehensions about the massive scale and questionable design of the proposed White House ballroom—a project emblematic of elitist excess. The commissioners insisted on 3D scale models to fully grasp how this extravagant addition would disrupt the historic fabric of the White House. Lead architect Shalom Baranes unveiled renderings of the 90,000-square-foot expansion, which includes a 22,000-square-foot ballroom—an ostentatious display of power and privilege. The commissioners requested physical models encompassing the White House complex, Treasury Department, and Eisenhower Executive Office Building to assess the potential damage to this national landmark.
Baranes claimed to be making efforts to respect the White House’s architectural integrity, mentioning plans to set back the north boundary and align the new structure’s height. However, these gestures did little to assuage concerns about the project’s bloated scale, especially the proposed 10-column, multistory porch on the south side, which commissioners described as 'immense'—a monument to excess rather than public service.
Public feedback has been overwhelmingly negative, with many condemning both the design and the opaque process that has shut out ordinary voices. One commenter acknowledged the design style but criticized the outsized scale, saying it would 'dominate' the main structure.
This meeting is part of ongoing reviews by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, bodies that are supposed to safeguard the public interest in federal projects. Historic preservationists, alarmed by the administration’s disregard for democratic oversight, have sought a court order to halt the $400 million vanity project, arguing that it lacks even basic congressional approval. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon is expected to rule on the request for a preliminary injunction next month.
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