US Politics
‘I did not vote for this’: Report finds 97 percent of responses to Trump’s ballroom just hate it
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Furious Americans have blasted President Donald Trump’s proposed $400 million ballroom by bombarding a planning commission with angry comments ahead of a key meeting on the project — and they were overwhelmingly negative.
The public submitted more than 35,000 comments to the National Capital Planning Commission and 97 percent were critical of the plans, according to analysis by The Washington Post. Similarly, analysis by The New York Times found that 98 percent of the more than 10,000 pages of comments were negative.
More than 500 comments branded Trump’s plans for the ballroom as “tacky,” while hundreds more were outraged at the demolition of the historic East Wing. The comments were submitted ahead of a virtual public hearing scheduled Thursday, where 100 people are slated to testify, The Independent found.
Images of demolition crews razing the historic East Wing to the ground in October last year drew widespread condemnation from the public and Democrats. But Trump and his administration have insisted that the plans are necessary for hosting large events, such as state dinners.
The new White House ballroom is expected to be a massive addition to the People’s House, but the project, funded by private donors, has been heavily scrutinized for its quick implementation and high costs – jumping from an initial $200 million estimate to $400 million.
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The American people didn’t hold back. Some submissions included their full names, while others went by a first name only.
“No one with taste or dignity would approve of this tacky ballroom that dwarfs the size of the historic White House,” one person wrote in a scathing comment. “I understand the President needs it for corrupt fundraisers and personal business interests such as his own crypto coins bought by foreign interests. Please include my comments in the official records for this corrupt renovation.”
“Tacky gold leaf and pillars cannot mask poor planning,” said a submission by R. Hayes. “Anything built in this model will one day be removed. Let’s not waste all of our time and money on narcissism.”
Another described the project as “a monstrous, tacky, gigantic edifice.”
Many Americans expressed how they “didn’t vote” for the lofty ballroom plans.
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“No ballroom please,” said a submission identified as Claire Banchich. “Most of the American people hate this intended project. We did not vote for this.”
“We did not vote for our monuments and our historical buildings to be destroyed because of one man’s ego,” wrote Jill Comras.
“I did not vote for a ballroom that dwarfs the White House, the People’s House,” read a submission from Jennifer Fink.
“The true American People who did not vote for ANY OF THIS will not stand for much more,” said Lilith Gist.
Many called for the ballroom to be canceled entirely.
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“Our White House does not need a tacky gilded monument to arrogance and excess,” a submission read. “Please cancel the ballroom project!”
“Stop this awful ballroom! It is too big, almost twice the square footage of the White House itself. This monstrosity will ruin the symmetry of 200 years of the White House,” said a comment from Richard Orton. “If a ballroom is needed, build it somewhere else. Don’t permit this addition to destroy this historic national treasure.”
Another, from architect Donna Wax, called the president’s plans for the gilded ballroom a “fascist take on classism.”
There were, however, a handful of positive comments from Trump supporters and those who thought the ballroom was a good idea.
“I voted for our president and what he is bringing to the White House,” wrote Greg Sullivan. “He will do an awesome job on this much needed addition useful by all subsequent administrations.”
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“I think it’s absolutely awesome that we have patriots willing to put up the money to build this ballroom for our country,” read one submission from Larry Carpentr.
“I think this will be great. Improved use. Public private partnership. Things that make America a wonderful place,” said Stephen Bolster.
Trump officials have continued to push the message that the ballroom is at no taxpayer expense. It is being financed by private donors, including tech giants Amazon, Microsoft, Palantir and Nvidia, while others are remaining anonymous.
“President Trump is working 24/7 to Make America Great Again, including his historic beautification of the White House, at no taxpayer expense,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a previous statement to The Independent. “These long-needed upgrades will benefit generations of future presidents and American visitors to the People’s House.”
Last week, a federal judge rejected a preservation group’s request for an injunction to block the project.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed an amended lawsuit over the weekend. It alleged the Trump administration violated multiple federal laws by embarking on the construction project unilaterally last fall without prior approval from the two planning commissions and Congress.
“No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever — not President Trump, no President Biden, and not anyone else,” the suit reads.
Josh Marcus contributed to this report
