White House says it will submit ballroom plans for review, with demolition already under way
Source: Reuters
The White House said on Tuesday it will submit plans for President Donald Trump's $250 million White House ballroom project to a body that oversees federal building construction, even though demolition work began earlier this week.
Trump reveled on Tuesday in the demolition sounds by construction workers for the ballroom addition to the White House, the first major change to the historic property in decades.
-snip-
Speaking to Republican lawmakers gathered in the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday, Trump noted the noises of demolition work coming from the other side of the grounds.
"You probably hear the beautiful sound of construction to the back," he said, sighing approvingly. "That's music to my ears. I love that sound. Other people don't like it. ... When I hear that sound it reminds me of money."
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/white-house-says-it-will-submit-ballroom-plans-review-with-demolition-already-2025-10-22/
According to the SOB's flunkies, no one should care that Trump lied when he said his plans wouldn't require demolishing the existing building, because "the scope and size was always subject to vary as the project developed."
The White House says reaction to the destruction was "manufactured outrage."
A Treasury official said the order to their employees not to share photos of the destruction they overlook in their building was because the photos "could potentially reveal sensitive items, including security features or confidential structural details."
Skittles
(168,230 posts)yup
bucolic_frolic
(52,914 posts)cbabe
(5,783 posts)Agencies have been kneecapped by t for months so approvals likely dont exist.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220736113
mwb970
(11,993 posts)Norrrm
(3,214 posts)........ IF they exist.
Doodles
(108 posts)This looked like a terrorist attack. Are you going to ask now if its ok? This had put me over the edge.
SunSeeker
(57,016 posts)Fucking Osama bin Trump.
AverageOldGuy
(3,093 posts)ACECO, a company based in Silver Spring, MD, is facing an online firestorm for playing a lead role in demolishing key portions of the White House, as part of Donald Trumps continued fascist takeover of our country.
If you want to let ACECO know what you think about their lead role in destroying the White House, the companys CEO is Rob Wilson and he can be reached via email at rwilson@acecoworld.com. The companys general email is info@acecoworld.com and its general phone number is 301-588-0707.
The company that got the contract to build Trumps disgusting ballroom, once a portion of the White House is demolished by ACECO, is Clark Construction Group in Bethesda MD. The company brags about being able to nab the project on its website.
https://www.clarkconstruction.com/
The principal contact for Clark Construction Group is Jay Grauberger, jay.grauberger@clarkconstruction.com, 301-272-7412. You can also find the company on Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
The architect for Trumps ballroom are Washington, D.C.-based McCrery Architects mccreryarchitects.com
Address: 318 3rd St NE Rear, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 737-5444
The owner of McCrery, is James McCrery -- he is the guy who was seen walking around the White House roof with Trump.
https://www.punchlistmag.com/p/what-to-know-about-james-mccrery-trump-s-white-house-architect-baf3a5b393403350
McCrery is an instructor at Catholic University in DC,
Info@mccreryarchitects.com
mccrery@cua.edu
Boomerproud
(9,031 posts)The hubris of these clowns!
slightlv
(6,868 posts)because it reminds him of money? What's he going to do... charge a cover fee and who knows what else kind of fee to step foot inside this gold plated monstrosity... like he does, no doubt, at Mar-a-Lago?
LetMyPeopleVote
(171,853 posts)By Tuesday afternoon, it appeared obvious that a significant portion of the East Wing has been demolished, the president's earlier vows notwithstanding.
Link to tweet
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/s-not-just-facade-team-trump-wrecked-much-white-houses-east-wing-rcna239092
While the news on Monday afternoon indicated that crews had torn down the entrance way to the White Houses East Wing, it became clear a day later that the facade wasnt the only part of the structure affected. The Washington Post reported:
A demolition job that began Monday with the disappearance of the White Houses eastern entrance advanced Tuesday with the destruction of much of the East Wing, according to a photograph obtained by The Washington Post and two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the scene.
By Tuesday afternoon, it appeared obvious that a significant portion of the East Wing has been demolished, Trumps earlier vows notwithstanding.
NEW: After The Washington Post reported Monday on the demolition of the "East Wing facade," a new picture obtained by Law Dork that was taken on Tuesday shows that a substantial portion of the entirety of the East Wing has been demolished.
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner.bsky.social) 2025-10-21T20:13:32.290Z
.....Of course, those arent just partisan complaints: Trump, acting at his own discretion, really is treating the White House as if it were his own personal property.
As weve discussed, the symbolic significance is impossible to miss: An authoritarian president is literally tearing down part of a national treasure because he wants a fancy ballroom to host parties for the elite.
The White House has reportedly asked that officials refrain from taking and sharing photographs of the grounds, to include the East Wing, without prior approval from the Office of Public Affairs. This probably wont stop images from reaching the public, though the appeal suggests that Team Trump isnt exactly proud of its handiwork.
Qutzupalotl
(15,573 posts)and he is forced to put everything back as it was, at his own expense, plus a hefty fine for damaging a national monument.
I know its a fantasy, but didnt he sign that law?
maxsolomon
(37,669 posts)"When I hear that sound it reminds me of money."
What a crass human. 2nd Worst Person in the World.
Shame on McCrery for abetting this pastiche.
LetMyPeopleVote
(171,853 posts)WOW
Trump Administration Live Updates: White House Changes Course and Will Demolish Entire East Wing www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
— Zoron Queen of The Bees (@zoron.bsky.social) 2025-10-22T20:21:45.415Z
What the actual fuck?!? Worst tenant ever!! Get him out of there! This image makes me want to cry. I am so angry and upset! And no one in Congress calling this out?
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/22/us/trump-news#east-wing-white-house-demolition-trump
The tear-down should be finished by this weekend, according to the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the plans.
When Mr. Trump first announced his plans for the ballroom, he pledged that the East Wing wouldnt be touched by the construction.
Itll be views of the Washington Monument. It wont interfere with the current building. Itll be near it but not touching it, the president said. And pays total respect to the existing building, which Im the biggest fan of.
But, upon further evaluation, the White House determined it was cheaper and more structurally sound to demolish the East Wing to construct the ballroom, rather than build an addition, the official said.
The new structure will also have enhanced security features, the official said.