# Trump Ball Room - the white elephant in the room **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 29, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237 "2025-11-29T20:06:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/1 "2025-11-29T20:06:41Z")
Work on the much touted Trump Ball Room has not yet begun. All current work is demolition of the east wing of the White House and site preparation for future construction. According to chatGPT approvals and permits are required before any construction can begin. Any current work is on the demolition site, not the Ball-Room. Even the design is still speculative according to the [NYT.](https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/trump-argues-with-architect-over-size-of-white-house-ballroom-737wtxb78?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Trump and the architect cannot agree on the floor size. So, any current effort is just Trump home improvement. Couple that with the fact that Trumps’ Ball-Room fantasy is completely without support: no long term management organization; no long term plan; no defined maintenance funding; no business model (it’s private self supporting); no defined market. The project is unlikely to ever be seriously undertaken, and if it is, demolition will likely begin in advance of completion. The elephant in the room is that we are likely to lose the White House. The Ball Room thing may be a ruse to test the waters for demolition of the White House. Trump has already demonstrated that demolition of the property is under his control. So, at his discretion, he can demolish and rebuild the official residence in a form that fits his fantasies. Does anyone believe Ball Room construction will actually begin? Will it be completed? Is the White House safe from Trump? Related issues regarding both. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/2 "2025-11-29T20:10:47Z")
I view what Trump has done to the White House as pure allegory for what he has done to the country. He’s ruined it. We’ll have to rebuild from the ground up to fix it – if we ever do. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/3 "2025-11-29T20:13:59Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > Trump and the architect cannot agree on the floor size. I’m amazed that trump isn’t just dictating his wishes. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/4 "2025-11-29T20:14:55Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > The Ball Room thing may be a ruse to test the waters for demolition of the White House. I find myself worried that there will be some incident involving a backhoe “accidentally” hitting a wall attached to the main complex resulting in an immediate decision to tear the rest of it down for “safety”. I think the main thing that would prevent this is the fact that a building such as the White House cannot be built quickly so Trump would be gone long before they could finish. Then again, he might not care. I vaguely recall hearing that he’s not a fan of the White House and thinks it is a dump. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/5 "2025-11-29T20:17:54Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > I find myself worried that there will be some incident involving a backhoe “accidentally” hitting a wall attached to the main complex resulting in an immediate decision to tear the rest of it down for “safety”. Exactly! Oooops, gee we couldn’t help it. But now it’s done, let’s move on. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/6 "2025-11-29T20:24:03Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > Even the design is still speculative according to the [NYT.](https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/trump-argues-with-architect-over-size-of-white-house-ballroom-737wtxb78?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Trump and the architect cannot agree on the floor size. I thought the plan was for a ballroom to seat 999 people but the article mentions that he was then thinking of one that could seat 1,350 people, or “several thousand people” or the entire crowd for an inauguration. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/7 "2025-11-29T20:34:33Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > seat 1,350 people, or “several thousand people” or the entire crowd for an inauguration. We used to call this delusions of grandeur. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/8 "2025-11-29T20:34:48Z")
Whose permission is needed to make modifications, demolition, additions to the White House? ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/9 "2025-11-29T20:39:51Z")
So far, none. Except the White House has secure military communications that would have to be removed. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/10 "2025-11-29T20:43:47Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > I’m amazed that trump isn’t just dictating his wishes. I suspect it’s a case of the architect explaining that what Trump wants is physically (or legally) not possible, with Trump countering “Make it work.” Repeat ad infinitum. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/11 "2025-11-29T20:43:48Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Whose permission is needed to make modifications, demolition, additions to the White House? What the King wants, the King gets, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/12 "2025-11-29T20:48:35Z")
My _understanding_ is that the Commission of Fine Arts is supposed to have authority but Trump fired all of the members of that group along with the members of the National Capital Planning Commission, who also have oversight authority. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/13 "2025-11-29T20:50:45Z")
It’s strange that permits and approvals weren’t required to tear the fucking thing down in the first place. Blam! It’s gone. That came on the heels of Trump promising that it wouldn’t be touched. I’m beginning to question the honor of the man and his enablers. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/14 "2025-11-29T21:01:47Z")
A group of architects wrote a [letter](https://www.archpaper.com/2025/11/aia-members-james-mccrery-violated-code-ethics/) to James McCrery, the architect, to ask him about whether he followed the AIA (American Institute of Architects) code of ethics, including by obtaining permits, hazardous materials abatement, and other issues. The NYT article said that the architect stepped back and is less involved. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/15 "2025-11-29T21:03:47Z")
In this third world shit-hole country (as Trump likes to refer to us) I had to go through a rigorous examination and on-site inspection just to add a very small extension to my Victorian era house. It was long and expensive, to say nothing of the specialized architects fees. Trump just brings in the wrecking ball and bulldozers. I wonder if he even has an architect? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/16 "2025-11-29T21:10:28Z")
George Costanza. Many people are saying that he’s the best. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/17 "2025-11-29T21:14:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > “several thousand people” Not so much a ballroom as a ball arena. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/18 "2025-11-29T21:30:55Z")
I’m guessing not many people will share my feelings on this… Of all the things Trump has done, this is so far down the list that it can’t be seen from altitude. But that being said… I just don’t care. It’s a building, nothing more. Of historic importance, yes. But it’s been renovated before. Going a bit deeper, I really dislike pomp and circumstance and the performative aspect of high office. People talk about respecting the office if not the person. To me, that would properly mean _acknowledging_ the importance of the office. But respecting it in the sense of having some kind of _reverence_ for it? That’s a big no for me. I think that kind of thing is what enables a mediocrity like Trump to appear “presidential”. In another universe, being the president brings no prestige in and of itself. It’s more like, “Great, now let’s see what you can do.” You get the support and expert help a leader needs, but you don’t get a fancy mansion, you don’t get a “great seal” on your correspondence and you don’t give fancy state dinners. My idea of a great president: a dumpy, boring policy wonk. If that person does good things, they can turn the White House into a replica of Action Park for all I care. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/19 "2025-11-29T21:31:46Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > > [@DWMarch](#): > > > > I find myself worried that there will be some incident involving a backhoe “accidentally” hitting a wall attached to the main complex resulting in an immediate decision to tear the rest of it down for “safety”. > > Exactly! Oooops, gee we couldn’t help it. But now it’s done, let’s move on. This seems likely to me. Then he’ll just move all functions formerly located in what used to be the White House to–_you guessed it!_–Mar-a-Lago. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237/20 "2025-11-29T21:42:15Z")
It pales in comparison to, say, blowing people up at sea, but it did happen. It happened at the whim of one deranged man, and it merits discussion. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ball-room-the-white-elephant-in-the-room/1025237.md?page=2)