In his own way, Donald Trump wanted to make history. He dreamt of a grand ballroom, for a thousand guests, worthy of the most spectacular receptions to rival those at the Élysée Palace or Versailles… But the 47th president’s golden dream is crashing against a sort of wall. A federal judge has indeed ordered the immediate halt of the works, as the partial demolition of the south wing of the White House began several weeks ago and the budget, initially estimated at $200 million, has literally doubled. Donald Trump, who once imagined himself hosting sumptuous dinners for heads of state and celebrities, must now bide his time. This forced pause serves as a simple reminder that the White House is not a personal playground like Trump Tower—a fact that the fiery president recently faced.
In October of last year, he had posted on his Truth Social network numerous photos of the fully renovated Lincoln bathroom. The Art Deco style and green tiling did not seem to please the businessman, so he had white marble installed on the walls and floor, as well as gold fixtures and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, as reported by our colleagues at Le Point. “It works perfectly for the time of Abraham Lincoln and could even correspond to the original marble,” he rejoiced, specifying that he wanted a style “consistent with the 1850s and the Civil War period.” A statement that left Edward Lengel, former chief historian of the White House Historical Association, gasping, as he told the New York Times that the photos “in no way resemble an interior from the 1860s.” Surprising.
In his ruling, Judge Richard Leon was clear: the president is the “caretaker” of the White House, but not the owner. Any transformation project must therefore pass through the United States Congress and comply with rules for preserving historical heritage. The construction site, which had begun with great fanfare, is now at a standstill. It is worth noting that this is the second time the project has hit a snag.
Donald Trump’s dream of the grand ballroom is also a source of controversy. Heritage advocates and many architects criticize the questionable choices made for the immense ballroom that will ruin the symmetry of the White House, which had an entire wing demolished. Unsurprisingly, the Trump camp responded to the attacks through White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who sharply criticized comments reported by the Daily Beast, defending the need for the magnificent ballroom the People’s House (the White House) has needed for decades.
During a mini press conference, Donald Trump also announced that his ballroom has a military purpose. “Currently, the military is building a large complex underneath,” he said, “everything is going well, we are even ahead of schedule.” Not likely that this information will calm tempers…
