Trump rejected building codes for White House ballroom, architect says
President Donald Trump clashed with architect James McCrery II over building safety codes for a new White House ballroom, leading McCrery to resign in October 2025. Trump reportedly dismissed fire safety concerns, stating "I am the code" and claiming building codes do not apply to White House construction. The project has faced litigation over congressional approval, with the Supreme Court allowing construction to continue in a 5-4 vote.
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Trump Rejected Building Codes for White House Ballroom, Architect Says
A report from The Washington Post, cited by Reason Magazine, reveals that President Donald Trump clashed with architect James McCrery II over safety features for the new White House ballroom. McCrery withdrew from the project after warning that the design lacked adequate emergency exits and fire-containment measures. Trump reportedly countered that no building codes apply to White House construction, stating 'I am the code.' The project, which replaced the East Wing, has been subject to litigation over whether Congress must approve major changes. A federal injunction halting construction was issued but later overturned by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote, allowing work to continue. Reason's Jacob Sullum called the ballroom 'a monument to Trump's disregard for the rule of law.' The article notes that while federal law requires compliance with model building codes, Trump's administration has criticized such regulations as burdensome.
Read sourceTrump Reportedly Rejected Building Codes for His White House Ballroom, Saying 'I Am the Code'
President Donald Trump reportedly rejected building safety codes for his planned White House ballroom, insisting that no building codes apply to White House construction and stating, 'I am the code.' The first architect on the project, James McCrery II, withdrew last October after warning that the design lacked adequate emergency exit routes and fire-containment measures. The Washington Post reported that Trump's attitude extended to ignoring federal law requiring compliance with nationally recognized model building codes. The project, which bulldozed the East Wing, has been subject to litigation over whether Congress or the president can approve major structural changes. A lower court and appeals court halted construction, but the Supreme Court allowed it to continue by a 5-4 vote. Chief Justice John Roberts criticized the decision as rubber-stamping a 'likely unlawful' project. Reason's Jacob Sullum called the ballroom 'a monument to Trump's disregard for the rule of law and the separation of powers.'
Read sourceTrump Clashed With Architect Over White House Ballroom Safety Codes Until Architect Quit
The New Republic reports, citing The Washington Post, that President Donald Trump fought with architect James McCrery II over building safety codes for a new White House ballroom until McCrery resigned in October. McCrery repeatedly warned that the design lacked adequate emergency exit routes and fire containment measures. Trump reportedly dismissed the concerns, stating 'I am the code,' and claimed building codes did not apply to White House construction. The Post obtained early ballroom designs with handwritten notes by Trump. The reporting indicates Trump is bypassing federal agencies that normally oversee White House renovations and are legally required to follow national building safety standards. Construction is being handled through the Executive Residence, which is not a federal agency and not subject to those rules. Buildings on federal property are outside District of Columbia jurisdiction, placing responsibility on contractors. After McCrery's resignation, the White House continued discussing safety concerns for months, but it is unclear if the replacement firm, Shalom Baranes Associates, addressed them. Trump has focused heavily on the ballroom, reneging on promises of private financing and using debunked national security justifications, which the article argues actually risks national security.
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Trump Clashed With Architect Over White House Ballroom Safety Codes Until Architect Quit
According to a Washington Post report cited by The New Republic, President Donald Trump fought with architect James McCrery II over building safety codes for a White House ballroom renovation, leading McCrery to resign in October. McCrery had repeatedly warned that the design lacked adequate emergency exit routes and fire containment measures. Trump reportedly dismissed the concerns, stating that building codes did not apply to White House construction and saying, 'I am the code.' The Post obtained documents showing Trump's handwritten notes on early designs. The report indicates Trump is bypassing federal agencies legally required to follow national building safety standards, instead routing projects through the Executive Residence, which is not subject to those rules. After McCrery's resignation, the White House continued discussing safety concerns, but it is unclear if the replacement firm, Shalom Baranes Associates, addressed them. Trump has also reneged on promises that the ballroom would be privately financed and has invoked national security justifications that have been debunked, potentially risking actual national security.
Trump Clashed With Architect Over White House Ballroom Safety Codes Until He Quit
According to a Washington Post report cited by The New Republic, President Donald Trump fought with architect James McCrery II over building safety codes for a new White House ballroom, leading McCrery to resign from the project in October. McCrery had repeatedly warned that the ballroom design lacked adequate emergency exit routes and fire containment measures. Trump reportedly dismissed the concerns, stating that building codes did not apply to White House construction and saying, 'I am the code.' The Post obtained documents showing Trump's handwritten notes on early designs. The reporting indicates Trump is bypassing federal agencies legally required to follow national building safety standards, instead routing projects through the Executive Residence, which is not subject to those rules. After McCrery's resignation, the White House continued discussing safety concerns for months, but it is unclear if the replacement firm, Shalom Baranes Associates, addressed them. Trump has also reneged on promises that the ballroom would be privately financed and has invoked debunked national security justifications, which critics say actually risks national security.