White House Ballroom Architect Quit After Warning Trump Over Fire Safety; Trump Said 'I Am the Code': Report
The architect warned that the preferred plan lacked enough exits and fire protection, while the ballroom design grew to seat more than 1,300 people.
- Architect James McCrery II resigned from the $400 million White House ballroom project last October after repeatedly warning that President Donald Trump's preferred design lacked sufficient emergency exit routes and fire-containment measures.
- President Trump allegedly dismissed safety warnings by insisting that no building codes apply to White House construction, reportedly telling McCrery, "I am the code," while using a black Sharpie to alter original blueprints.
- The project is overseen by the Executive Residence, an office exempt from federal safety rules, and internal records from September 2025 noted "Life safety- big concern" regarding the ballroom's layout.
- A White House spokesman called it "factually false" to link McCrery's departure to code issues, while McCrery stated he "stepped aside" after completing early designs and Shalom Baranes Associates took over the project.
- The $400 million ballroom project remains a source of legal and public controversy, with critics noting the bypass of standard federal construction oversight as the initiative continues toward completion.
14 Articles
14 Articles
White House Ballroom Architect Quit After Warning Trump Over Fire Safety; Trump Said 'I Am the Code': Report
James McCrery II reportedly withdrew from Trump's White House ballroom project after raising concerns about emergency exits and fire protections, allegations the White House strongly disputes.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Trump’s ballroom architect quit after design’s safety concerns were dismissed: report
Classical architect James McCrery II stepped down from the project in October 2025, the same week the historic East Wing was demolished, according to the report
Report: Ballroom Architect Bailed After Trump Ignored Warnings
A White House makeover that has long thought eyebrows is now prompting questions about fire codes. The Washington Post reports that architect James McCrery II stepped away from designing President Trump's planned East Wing ballroom last fall after warning that Trump's preferred layout didn't offer enough emergency exits, fire barriers,...
Trump On Ballroom Safety Codes: “I Am The Code”
The Washington Post reports: In the weeks leading up to his resignation last year, the first architect on the White House ballroom clashed with President Donald Trump over design features that the architect believed violated building safety codes. James McCrery II withdrew from the project last October after warning repeatedly that Trump was insisting on … The post Trump On Ballroom Safety Codes: “I Am The Code” appeared first on Joe.My.God..
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