Trump's $400 million White House ballroom project faces design criticism

Key facts

• The New York Times published a critique of President Donald Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroom on Sunday.
• The 90,000-square-foot ballroom is set to be more than three times the size of the White House.
• Design flaws highlighted include fake windows on the north side, columns blocking interior views, stairs leading nowhere, and an oversized rooftop.
• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, criticised the article and its authors on platform X.
• Leavitt stated the ballroom will be privately funded and claimed President Trump and his lead architect have built world-class buildings globally.
• Trump demolished the historic East Wing in October 2025 despite earlier promises to leave it untouched.
• The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on the ballroom project on April 2.
• About 98 percent of 32,000 public comments received by the Commission oppose the ballroom construction.
• James McCrery II was removed as chief architect in December after raising concerns over the ballroom's size.