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Miles Archer

(21,206 posts)
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:13 PM Yesterday

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
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Orange Rapin' Felon Grampy parts ways with Epstein Ballroom architect who couldn't handle the bigly yugeness of it all (Original Post) Miles Archer Yesterday OP
I wonder if Trump ordered him to knock down the entire White House now. Irish_Dem Yesterday #1
He wants to paint the Eisenhower executive building white newdeal2 Yesterday #3
I had not heard this one. Jebus. Irish_Dem Yesterday #4
End quote from yesterday's NYT article on this debacle: maxsolomon Yesterday #10
He is delulu. Completely delusional. Irish_Dem Yesterday #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 Yesterday #5
I read that that Trump wanted the ballroom to be bigger than the WH. Irish_Dem Yesterday #8
I'm betting that atrocity of a ballroom is NEVER built. tinrobot Yesterday #2
I've assumed the same Miles Archer Yesterday #6
He could pocket the money, make the contractors build the building and then stiff them. Irish_Dem Yesterday #7
McCrery laid down with dogs and now he's got fleas. maxsolomon Yesterday #9
McCrery was getting heat from the AIA and other Klarkashton Yesterday #13
The founder is Shalom Baranes maxsolomon 9 hrs ago #15
#ETTD... Hugin Yesterday #14
Trump probably refused to pay the man. flvegan Yesterday #12
McCrery tried to tell MFer no. maxsolomon 9 hrs ago #16

Irish_Dem

(78,594 posts)
1. I wonder if Trump ordered him to knock down the entire White House now.
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:21 PM
Yesterday

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
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:23 PM
Yesterday

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

maxsolomon

(38,011 posts)
10. End quote from yesterday's NYT article on this debacle:
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:53 PM
Yesterday

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

Miles Archer

(21,206 posts)
5. I had to read the "he wanted it BIGGER" part a couple of times to make sure I'd read it correctly
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:37 PM
Yesterday

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

(78,594 posts)
8. I read that that Trump wanted the ballroom to be bigger than the WH.
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:42 PM
Yesterday

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.
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:22 PM
Yesterday

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

Another day, another grift.

Miles Archer

(21,206 posts)
6. I've assumed the same
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:38 PM
Yesterday

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

(78,594 posts)
7. He could pocket the money, make the contractors build the building and then stiff them.
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:39 PM
Yesterday

maxsolomon

(38,011 posts)
9. McCrery laid down with dogs and now he's got fleas.
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:50 PM
Yesterday

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
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 08:02 PM
Yesterday

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
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 12:11 PM
9 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.

maxsolomon

(38,011 posts)
16. McCrery tried to tell MFer no.
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 12:14 PM
9 hrs ago

He got cold feet when the program changed to accommodate 1,350 and he realized Trump wanted a convention center.

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