President Donald Trump's plan to build a bulletproof ballroom at the White House has drawn criticism, with the project described as having 'dictator-for-life vibes'. The $250m (£187.5m) scheme, funded by donors, will replace the East Wing with a faux classical structure featuring gilded columns and chandeliers, capable of seating 650 guests.
The architect chosen for the project is James McCrery, founder of Washington-based McCrery Architects and a vocal advocate of classical architecture. McCrery, who specialises in designing traditional Catholic churches, previously served on the US Commission of Fine Arts during Trump's first term. Critics question why a president who dislikes the White House, preferring his Mar-a-Lago resort, would undertake such a grandiose project.
Trump's executive order, 'Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again', mandates classical styles for federal buildings, with the president having final veto power. The American Institute of Architects expressed concern, stating it is 'extremely concerned about any revisions that remove control from local communities, mandate official federal design preferences, or otherwise hinder design freedom'.
The East Wing, dating from 1902, has housed the first lady's office and sits above a high-security bunker used during the 9/11 attacks and the George Floyd protests. Trump's previous architectural projects include the gilded Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York and the refurbished Oval Office, described by press secretary Karoline Leavitt as 'engoldened'.
