'Stupid and nasty': Trump defends rising cost of WH ballroom while lashing out at reporter
WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump is defending his plans for the new White House ballroom -- which is now estimated at $300 million -- and fully funded by private donors.
He said the project has expanded significantly in size and quality since it was first proposed.
"It is actually under budget and ahead of schedule, as my jobs always are," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday morning. "It’s just much bigger and more beautiful than originally planned. Interestingly, and seldom reported, there are no taxpayer dollars involved. It is being fully paid for by private donations."
The president also criticized CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, who he said asked him why the ballroom is costing more money than originally thought one year ago.
He said it's because it is going to be "double the size" than he first hoped, noting that "the quality of finishes and interiors has been brought to the highest level" and the column span was "substantially increased" for viewing purposes.
Trump went on to call Collins "stupid and nasty," adding that "the guy who runs the whole corrupt operation that owns" CNN "is one of the worst in the business." He said their "ratings are so low that they’re not even counted or relevant anymore."
The post comes a day after a report surfaced that the lead architect behind the construction of the ballroom was replaced. According to The Washington Post, James McCrery, who is the CEO of McCrery Architects, ended his control of the project in October.
Citing unnamed sources, the media outlet noted that McCrery and Trump clashed over Trump’s desire to increase the size of the ballroom, which was originally set to hold 650 people. Sources also said the White House expressed concerns about McCrery’s small firm’s ability to meet the massive demands of the project, having missed important deadlines, which ultimately determined McCrery’s departure from the project.
But the outlet said McCrery and Trump remain on good terms, as McCrery still serves as a consultant on the project.
Trump replaced McCrery with architect Shalom Baranes Associate, who has several government building projects under his belt, including the General Services Administration’s national headquarters and the $1 billion renovation of the Pentagon following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
In July, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the construction of the 90,000 square-foot ballroom. At the time, she said it would cost $200 million, with Trump donating funds to build it.
"For 150 years, presidents, administrations, and White House staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed," Leavitt said during the summer.
"President Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people," she added.
Construction started in September. Leavitt said it is expected to be finished "long before the end of President Trump’s term."
______________
EDITOR'S NOTE: The National News Desk's Elaine Mallon contributed to this report.
