Trump’s ritzy ballroom gets long-awaited approval by DC planning commission — despite court challenge

Always in His Presence · Apr 2, 2026

Trump’s ritzy ballroom gets long-awaited approval by DC planning commission — despite court challenge

The National Capital Planning Commission voted to approve President Trump’s ballroom design despite a public comment period that requested changes to the project, including reducing the structure’s size.

Their decision may now be subject to a lawsuit, according to a public advocacy group weighing a legal challenge.

Eight commissioners voted to approve the project. Two commissioners voted present and one, a Democrat, voted no. A final commissioner was absent.

RocksInMyHead · Apr 2, 2026

Always in His Presence said:
Eight commissioners voted to approve the project.

Notably, three commissioners were appointed by the President, two are Republican members of Congress (as Republicans hold the majority in both the House and the Senate, and thus hold the chairs for all House and Senate committees), and three are the heads of other Executive Branch agencies (DoD, DoI, and General Services) - and thus are also presidential appointees. Hey, whaddaya know, that makes 8!

About the Commission

The Commission is comprised of 12 members. Commissioners represent federal and local constituencies with a stake in planning for the nation's capital. The President appoints three citizens, including the Chairman. At least one presidential appointee must reside in Virginia and another in...

www.ncpc.gov

Aryeh Jay · Apr 2, 2026

RocksInMyHead said:
Notably, three commissioners were appointed by the President, two are Republican members of Congress (as Republicans hold the majority in both the House and the Senate, and thus hold the chairs for all House and Senate committees), and three are the heads of other Executive Branch agencies (DoD, DoI, and General Services) - and thus are also presidential appointees. Hey, whaddaya know, that makes 8!

About the Commission

The Commission is comprised of 12 members. Commissioners represent federal and local constituencies with a stake in planning for the nation's capital. The President appoints three citizens, including the Chairman. At least one presidential appointee must reside in Virginia and another in...

www.ncpc.gov

Fair and balanced, nothing to see here, another liberal nothing burger.

Always in His Presence · Apr 3, 2026

RocksInMyHead said:
Notably, three commissioners were appointed by the President, two are Republican members of Congress (as Republicans hold the majority in both the House and the Senate, and thus hold the chairs for all House and Senate committees), and three are the heads of other Executive Branch agencies (DoD, DoI, and General Services) - and thus are also presidential appointees. Hey, whaddaya know, that makes 8!

About the Commission

The Commission is comprised of 12 members. Commissioners represent federal and local constituencies with a stake in planning for the nation's capital. The President appoints three citizens, including the Chairman. At least one presidential appointee must reside in Virginia and another in...

www.ncpc.gov

Well....... yeah! the President chooses who he want - every President does the same. Why are you surprised?

RocksInMyHead · Apr 3, 2026

Always in His Presence said:
Well....... yeah! the President chooses who he want - every President does the same. Why are you surprised?

Touting a rubber-stamp approval as if it's some sort of accomplishment seems a bit...desperate?

Aryeh Jay · Apr 3, 2026

RocksInMyHead said:
Touting a rubber-stamp approval as if it's some sort of accomplishment seems a bit...desperate?

At least a rubber stamp isn't an auto pen.

Say it aint so · Apr 3, 2026

Kind of curious, but has all the money from private donors been collected to pay for this monstrosity?

essentialsaltes · Apr 3, 2026

Say it aint so said:
Kind of curious, but has all the money from private donors been collected to pay for this monstrosity?

Sorry, that money is private. It's none of your business in whose pocket it now rests.

Aryeh Jay · Apr 3, 2026

Nice things cost money.

Say it aint so · Apr 3, 2026

essentialsaltes said:
Sorry, that money is private. It's none of your business in whose pocket it now rests.

I think 1) if it gets through court, it probably won't be finished by end of Trump's term. And 2) is there something legally binding those businesses preventing them from not fulfilling their obligations. My guess with Trump there isn't.

DaisyDay · Apr 3, 2026

https://www.archpaper.com/2026/04/ncpc-approves-east-wing-ballroom/

NCPC approved the $400 million project that will deliver a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom on White House grounds above what Trump recently called a “secret” military complex in the basement. On Sunday, Trump told reporters that “the ballroom essentially becomes a shed for what’s being built under.”

“Some of the president’s statements about the ballroom are not consistent with what we have before us today,” NCPC chairman Will Scharf said.

There was no presentation by Shalom Baranes Associates, and there were no public comments at the NCPC hearing.

The NCPC last deliberated on the ballroom proposal on March 5, when NCPC Chairman Will Scharf greenlit the project for one last review, resulting in today’s final vote.

...Judge Leon affirmed that the ballroom proposal requires Congressional approval and, until that happens, it is illegal for it to proceed.

Even with NCPC approval, the ballroom project cannot proceed due to Judge Leon’s ruling on March 31. Per the Associated Press, Leon delayed enforcement of his order for two weeks because “halting an ongoing construction project may raise logistical issues.”

Did they approve of the staircases that go nowhere?

Aryeh Jay · Apr 3, 2026

DaisyDay said:
https://www.archpaper.com/2026/04/ncpc-approves-east-wing-ballroom/

NCPC approved the $400 million project that will deliver a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom on White House grounds above what Trump recently called a “secret” military complex in the basement. On Sunday, Trump told reporters that “the ballroom essentially becomes a shed for what’s being built under.”

“Some of the president’s statements about the ballroom are not consistent with what we have before us today,” NCPC chairman Will Scharf said.

There was no presentation by Shalom Baranes Associates, and there were no public comments at the NCPC hearing.

The NCPC last deliberated on the ballroom proposal on March 5, when NCPC Chairman Will Scharf greenlit the project for one last review, resulting in today’s final vote.

...Judge Leon affirmed that the ballroom proposal requires Congressional approval and, until that happens, it is illegal for it to proceed.

Even with NCPC approval, the ballroom project cannot proceed due to Judge Leon’s ruling on March 31. Per the Associated Press, Leon delayed enforcement of his order for two weeks because “halting an ongoing construction project may raise logistical issues.”

Did they approve of the staircases that go nowhere?

It's not secret if you tell people.

Pommer · Apr 3, 2026

Say it aint so said:
Kind of curious, but has all the money from private donors been collected to pay for this monstrosity?

What (if any) ”benefits“ do donors receive? (Besides the satisfaction of seeing their money transformed into a veritable pleasure-dome.)

Pommer · Apr 3, 2026

DaisyDay said:
https://www.archpaper.com/2026/04/ncpc-approves-east-wing-ballroom/

NCPC approved the $400 million project that will deliver a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom on White House grounds above what Trump recently called a “secret” military complex in the basement. On Sunday, Trump told reporters that “the ballroom essentially becomes a shed for what’s being built under.”

“Some of the president’s statements about the ballroom are not consistent with what we have before us today,” NCPC chairman Will Scharf said.

There was no presentation by Shalom Baranes Associates, and there were no public comments at the NCPC hearing.

The NCPC last deliberated on the ballroom proposal on March 5, when NCPC Chairman Will Scharf greenlit the project for one last review, resulting in today’s final vote.

...Judge Leon affirmed that the ballroom proposal requires Congressional approval and, until that happens, it is illegal for it to proceed.

Even with NCPC approval, the ballroom project cannot proceed due to Judge Leon’s ruling on March 31. Per the Associated Press, Leon delayed enforcement of his order for two weeks because “halting an ongoing construction project may raise logistical issues.”

Did they approve of the staircases that go nowhere?

What does $4444.00/sqft buy? (Must be pretty swanky!)

rambot · Apr 3, 2026

Always in His Presence said:
Well....... yeah! the President chooses who he want - every President does the same. Why are you surprised?

Choosing people who only agree with you is immature and childish as a leader. Being unwilling to pursue the idea that other ideas may be better than your first instinct is another feature of an incredibly delicate and fragile person.

So you act tough...because you're weak.

Always in His Presence · Apr 3, 2026

rambot said:
Choosing people who only agree with you is immature and childish as a leader.

You do realize you just called every President and virtually every world leader immature and childish?

I'll make it easy for you - name one person Mark Carney has placed in office or a position of authority in the Canadian Government that does not agree with him about how that office should be run.

rambot said:
Being unwilling to pursue the idea that other ideas may be better than your first instinct is another feature of an incredibly delicate and fragile person.

No reference to that remains in reality. At least not about the ballroom

rambot said:
So you act tough...because you're weak.

HUH?

iluvatar5150 · Apr 3, 2026

Always in His Presence said:
You do realize you just called every President and virtually every world leader immature and childish?

I'll make it easy for you - name one person Mark Carney has placed in office or a position of authority in the Canadian Government that does not agree with him about how that office should be run.

No reference to that remains in reality. At least not about the ballroom

HUH?

I take it you haven't read Team of Rivals.

No, not every leader installs yes-men. The good ones appoint people who will tell them the truth and offer fresh insight. Obama was a big fan of the book and had in his cabinet both his primary Democratic rival (Hillary Clinton) and his Republican predecessor's Secretary of Defense (Bob Gates).

Say it aint so · Apr 3, 2026

Pommer said:
What (if any) ”benefits“ do donors receive? (Besides the satisfaction of seeing their money transformed into a veritable pleasure-dome.)

We know what this is. Again, the final tally is not going to be what bantered about now. Even that has already seen a 30+ percent increase. And that's before the bunker came to light. What happens if it's not done, and Trump is not in office and those credit benefits no longer do them any good?

rambot · Apr 3, 2026

Always in His Presence said:
You do realize you just called every President and virtually every world leader immature and childish?

No I didn't. Just because a president gets to choose doesn't mean they have all always picked sycophants.

I know so little about American presidential history but I know that.

Always in His Presence said:
I'll make it easy for you - name one person Mark Carney has placed in office or a position of authority in the Canadian Government that does not agree with him about how that office should be run.

This thread is about Trump yes?

Always in His Presence said:
No reference to that remains in reality.

I guess it has only been used to describe Trump's pretty well by intelligent people who knew and worked with him.

I know how unimportant that is to his supporters.

notyourenemy · Apr 4, 2026

Always in His Presence said:
name one person Mark Carney has placed in office or a position of authority in the Canadian Government that does not agree with him about how that office should be run.

Name one Canadian government building Mark Carney has wrecked to build a gaudy eyesore of a ballroom.

The "DC planning commission" means nothing. What matters is what the court has decided.

Trump’s ritzy ballroom gets long-awaited approval by DC planning commission — despite court challenge

Jesus is the only Way