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.
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35 Articles
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Reality Tea
MandatoryDonald Trump Had Bizarre 4-Word Reaction to Ballroom Architect Over Safety Concerns
Donald Trump reportedly dismissed fire safety warnings from the architect designing his $400 million White House ballroom. He insisted that building regulations simply did not apply to him. The president’s blunt four-word reply — “I am the code” — has reignited scrutiny of a project already facing public backlash and legal challenges. Donald Trump reportedly […]
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