The architect for the ballroom project quit due to health and safety standards regarding fire hazards.
Posted by The Bulwark Daily, Checked
- Sources
- 4 contradict2 support
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 50%
The Bulwark DailySep 29, 2026
The Washington Post reporting, relayed by many outlets, says architect James McCrery II resigned after repeatedly warning that the ballroom design violated fire and safety codes, so the safety-and-fire-hazard motive is reported.
A detail. The sources confirm the gist; the verdict faults a detail such as a date, number or wording.
A guest makes this claim. Listeners heard it, so it counts against the post, and on the guest's own record.
What was said
… fact that he's going around them anyway to steal money from Secret Service and national parks to do it anyway, when this thing is probably going to end up about as good as the reflecting pool. To be honest, because again, like, what controls do we have, and I had the architect quit because of health and safety standards, because there was a fire hazard, so just end the darn thing, because it's probably going to be nothing but a huge problem for the next president down the road, there's so many reasons to go into it, but primarily, you don't have to care about the ballroom to care about this issue because …
The Bulwark Daily · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. The White House told the Post and others that the premise that McCrery's departure was associated with code issues is 'factually false and totally inaccurate,' and said its safety questions were addressed as the design evolved.[1][2][3]
Contradicts. McCrery did not give the Post a specific reason for leaving, and in a later statement he said he 'stepped aside' after completing the earliest designs, which does not clearly attribute his exit to fire-safety standards.[2][4]
Supports. Multiple outlets relaying a Washington Post report say James McCrery II, the first ballroom architect, resigned in October 2025 after repeatedly warning that Trump's preliminary design lacked adequate emergency exits and fire-containment measures.[1][2][3][5]
Supports. The Post reportedly obtained documents showing McCrery left the week of October 20, the same week demolition began, and White House records show continued life-safety discussions afterward.[1][5][6]
Context. The safety account rests largely on anonymous sources and documents reported by a single outlet, and no independent authority has confirmed the causal motive.[1][3][5]
Sources
6 sources: 1 tier 2, 5 not rated
- 1Ballroom Architect Quit After Trump Brushed Off Warnings It Could Be A Death Trap: Reporthuffpost.com · tier 2 · cited for: contradicts, supports, context
- 2Trump's ballroom architect quit after president dismissed safety concern with the design: reportthe-independent.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts, supports
- 3Architect on Trump’s Ballroom Project Allegedly Left Last Year Over Construction Safety Concerns: Reportpeople.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts, supports, context
- 4Trump's first ballroom architect quit over safety fearstherealdeal.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 5‘I am the code': Trump clashed with ballroom architect over safety issuesseattletimes.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 6'I Am the Code': Trump's White House Ballroom Architect Quit ...ibtimes.co.uk · not rated · cited for: supports
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
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