Architect Resigns After Trump Dismisses Ballroom Safety Concerns
The first architect of the White House ballroom, James McCrery II, resigned in October 2025 after clashing with President Donald Trump over design features that McCrery believed violated fire and safety codes. Trump reportedly dismissed these concerns, stating that building codes did not apply to the White House and asserting that 'I am the code.' The project, which has faced legal challenges over its authorization and scale, is being managed through the Executive Residence office, which is not subject to the same federal agency oversight as other government construction projects.