Trump hires new White House architect with $300 million project fee

Trump replaced lead architect of planned new ballroom wing of White House

The project will be carried out by the Washington-based firm Shalom Baranes Associates, a White House representative said. The previous project lead, James McCrery, will remain in an advisory role.

White House spokesperson Davis Inglis noted that Shalom is an outstanding architect whose work has shaped the capital’s skyline for decades, and that his experience will be essential for completing the project.

The White House did not specify why the project lead was changed. However, The Washington Post earlier reported disagreements between Trump and McCrery over the scale of the work, and said the architect’s small firm struggled to meet the deadlines required for such an extensive project.

Demolition of East Wing and project cost

Demolition of the East Wing, which previously housed the office of the First Lady, began in October. Trump said the new hall will measure 90,000 square feet and accommodate up to one thousand guests, far larger than the main White House building, which is about 55,000 square feet.

The construction estimate has risen from $200 million to $350 million. The White House says Trump is also contributing financially, though the amount is not being disclosed.

Among the donors are billionaire Steve Schwarzman, Amazon, and Coinbase. Their involvement has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given Trump’s frequent blending of personal business with government affairs.

Next steps

The president introduced the idea of a new ballroom this summer, complaining about a lack of space for official receptions. He said the new complex would not interfere with the existing building and would preserve full respect for its architectural style.

Construction is being led by Clark Construction Group, which is also working on the renovation of the Kennedy Center in Washington. According to Will Skard, presidential aide and head of the National Capital Planning Commission, the administration plans to submit the final project materials this month.

Background

In recent months, Trump has purchased at least $82 million in bonds, investing in companies and sectors that could benefit from his policies. Documents from the Office of Government Ethics show more than 175 financial purchases between late August and early October.

Trump has expressed intentions to turn the United States into a bitcoin superpower and global crypto capital.