General Discussion

Miles Archer

(21,207 posts) Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:13 PM Thursday

Orange Rapin' Felon Grampy parts ways with Epstein Ballroom architect who couldn't handle the bigly yugeness of it all

Trump fired his own ballroom architect after clashing with an architect over expanding the project.

The boutique architecture firm led by James McCrery II was reportedly replaced after three months when questions surfaced over whether the group could manage the large-scale plan, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

"It is unclear whether McCrery stepped back voluntarily, but the men parted on good terms and remain so, according to one of the people familiar with the project, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations," The Post reported.

Trump apparently wanted to increase the size and scope of the project, "but it was McCrery’s firm’s small workforce and inability to hit deadlines that became the decisive factor in him leaving," a source told the outlet.

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-ballroom-2674371128/

16 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Orange Rapin' Felon Grampy parts ways with Epstein Ballroom architect who couldn't handle the bigly yugeness of it all (Original Post) Miles Archer Thursday OP

I wonder if Trump ordered him to knock down the entire White House now. Irish_Dem Thursday #1

He wants to paint the Eisenhower executive building white newdeal2 Thursday #3

I had not heard this one. Jebus. Irish_Dem Thursday #4

End quote from yesterday's NYT article on this debacle: maxsolomon Thursday #10

He is delulu. Completely delusional. Irish_Dem Thursday #11

I had to read the "he wanted it BIGGER" part a couple of times to make sure I'd read it correctly Miles Archer Thursday #5

I read that that Trump wanted the ballroom to be bigger than the WH. Irish_Dem Thursday #8

I'm betting that atrocity of a ballroom is NEVER built. tinrobot Thursday #2

I've assumed the same Miles Archer Thursday #6

He could pocket the money, make the contractors build the building and then stiff them. Irish_Dem Thursday #7

McCrery laid down with dogs and now he's got fleas. maxsolomon Thursday #9

McCrery was getting heat from the AIA and other Klarkashton Thursday #13

The founder is Shalom Baranes maxsolomon 19 hrs ago #15

#ETTD... Hugin Thursday #14

Trump probably refused to pay the man. flvegan Thursday #12

McCrery tried to tell MFer no. maxsolomon 18 hrs ago #16

Irish_Dem

(78,614 posts)

1. I wonder if Trump ordered him to knock down the entire White House now.

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:21 PM

Thursday

No one seems to care about destroying the East Wing, why not the whole damn White House.
And of course it must be called the TRUMP HOUSE.

newdeal2

(4,587 posts)

3. He wants to paint the Eisenhower executive building white

Reply to Irish_Dem (Reply #1)

Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:23 PM

Thursday

On a whim. Even though that building is granite and painting over it would be a disaster and crime.

Irish_Dem

(78,614 posts)

4. I had not heard this one. Jebus.

Reply to newdeal2 (Reply #3)

Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:35 PM

Thursday

Trump is batshit crazy.
Period.

maxsolomon

(38,011 posts)

10. End quote from yesterday's NYT article on this debacle:

Reply to Irish_Dem (Reply #4)

Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:53 PM

Thursday

"I'm considered an important designer".
-President Bullshit Artist

Irish_Dem

(78,614 posts)

11. He is delulu. Completely delusional.

Reply to maxsolomon (Reply #10)

Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:56 PM

Thursday

Miles Archer

(21,207 posts)

5. I had to read the "he wanted it BIGGER" part a couple of times to make sure I'd read it correctly

Reply to Irish_Dem (Reply #1)

Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:37 PM

Thursday

It's not a good sign that he wants it "BIGGER THAN THE FORMER EAST WING."

He's also trolling the idea of renaming the Kennedy Center "The Trump Center."

Let's hope nature does its thing before any of this sees the light of day.

Irish_Dem

(78,614 posts)

8. I read that that Trump wanted the ballroom to be bigger than the WH.

Reply to Miles Archer (Reply #5)

Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:42 PM

Thursday

And the design firm refused because it is a design principle not to overshadow the historic
and primary buildings when making an addition.

So Trump fired them.

Trump wants everything named after him.

tinrobot

(11,907 posts)

2. I'm betting that atrocity of a ballroom is NEVER built.

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:22 PM

Thursday

But he'll still raise hundreds of million in "donations" for the construction.

Another day, another grift.

Miles Archer

(21,207 posts)

6. I've assumed the same

Reply to tinrobot (Reply #2)

Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:38 PM

Thursday

Three years is gonna seem like a small eternity if he's with us for all three, but it will still go by faster than people think.

Irish_Dem

(78,614 posts)

7. He could pocket the money, make the contractors build the building and then stiff them.

Reply to tinrobot (Reply #2)

Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:39 PM

Thursday

maxsolomon

(38,011 posts)

9. McCrery laid down with dogs and now he's got fleas.

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:50 PM

Thursday

His tiny firm was never going to be able to handle a fast-paced, professional asshole of a client project like this - according to President Bullshit Artist, they're already shoring up the hole.

Shalom Baranes Assoc. is a legit DC firm, and looks to be mid-size. 11 Principals, so maybe 40, 50 total staff? Their portfolio is NOT Neo-Classical. No one's is.
https://www.sbaranes.com/

Of course, taking this on will destroy them. The Leadership doesn't look like Repukes, either.

Klarkashton

(4,597 posts)

13. McCrery was getting heat from the AIA and other

Reply to maxsolomon (Reply #9)

Thu Dec 4, 2025, 08:02 PM

Thursday

Professional organizations about his involvement with this travesty. It was time to bail
The new firm will get the same treatment.

maxsolomon

(38,011 posts)

15. The founder is Shalom Baranes

Reply to Klarkashton (Reply #13)

Fri Dec 5, 2025, 12:11 PM

19 hrs ago

He wrote an op-ed in the WaPo in 2017 about being an immigrant who remodeled the Pentagon:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/03/23/i-came-here-as-a-refugee-and-then-i-rebuilt-the-pentagon-after-911/

It's paywalled so I can't read it, but it features a picture of Bibi Netanyahu and Sen. Graham. I'd wager he's Likud and Repuke-friendly and that led Bullshit Artist to his firm.