Trump Dismissed White House Ballroom Safety Codes, Prompting Architect's 2025 Exit
Updated
Updated · Mother Jones · Sep 23
Trump Dismissed White House Ballroom Safety Codes, Prompting Architect's 2025 Exit
3 articles · Updated · Mother Jones · Sep 23
Summary
A Washington Post investigation said Trump brushed aside fire, health and safety warnings on the new White House ballroom, telling architect James McCrery II, “I am the code.”
McCrery left the project in October 2025 after repeated clashes over Trump’s preferred preliminary design, which the architect said risked code violations involving emergency exits, fire containment and restroom capacity.
The dispute centers on Trump’s claim that building codes do not apply to the White House, but federal standards generally bind federal agencies unless compliance would harm national security.
The ballroom project has already drawn wider scrutiny after a $500 million no-bid contract and an appeals court ruling ordering construction halted for lack of congressional approval.