People also like to trot out that he stiffs his contractors. That shows me someone that has never hired subcontractors in any aspect of their lives.

Sometimes subs don't show up, don't complete the work, complete subpar work, or did not submit the required information to get paid. The sub will have their side, the GC / project owner will have their side.

This is getting Not he Bee-ish…

The White House became my home when I was twelve years old. I always understood that it wasn’t my ‘house’; it was The People’s House. https://t.co/4nwSllGaRj

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) October 23, 2025

flown-the-coop said:

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People also like to trot out that he stiffs his contractors. That shows me someone that has never hired subcontractors in any aspect of their lives.

Sometimes subs don't show up, don't complete the work, complete subpar work, or did not submit the required information to get paid. The sub will have their side, the GC / project owner will have their side.

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Yes. Over 500 businesses in real estate which is a very complicated world. If everyone liked him there would be more bankruptcies and he'd have been far less successful.

TexasAggie73 said:

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You enjoy you and your opinions. You don't know me or my background so your opinions about me are worthless. Meanwhile I'll enjoy my trip to Hawaii.

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Quote:

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Ryan, the PEOC (supposedly under the East Wing) is over 100 yrs old, correct?

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83 years. It was originally constructed in 1942.

flown-the-coop said:

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This is getting Not he Bee-ish…

The White House became my home when I was twelve years old. I always understood that it wasn’t my ‘house’; it was The People’s House. https://t.co/4nwSllGaRj

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) October 23, 2025

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These same people will be hob knobbing it up with lobbyists and foreign leaders in this very same ballroom when the next Democrat wins the white house.

My architectural thoughts on the White House updates.

The Rose Garden looks better a grassy area than as a paved patio. However, the Rose Garden is being updated and renovated all the time. The patio can be torn up and the lawn restored at a later date.

Additionally, I think the ballroom design is too large and out of portion with respect to the rest of the White House complex. However that is just my opinion, and the East Wing that was torn down was of no particular historic significance. The ballroom too can be torn down, and I believe it is not being built with taxpayer money.

I'm guessing once the ballroom is up and running, the Rose Garden can be returned to its prior state, or at least more like it. The ballroom will allow more hosting to be done inside.

Can't have everything, but Trump is doing a great job of making the WH more functional. Plus, there's tons more good happening for Americans inside the building than there has been in quite a while.

The ballroom is an essential part of the White House that has long been missing and is greatly needed. The event rooms in the main structure are simply not adequate to host larger functions in particular state dinners.

This often requires "wedding tents" to be setup for all but the highest on the guest list. In inclement weather, this became a muddy embarrassing nightmares.

The White House is our palace. Since antiquity palaces have had grand spaces for greeting both subjects, foes and foreign folks. Projecting competence and power on the world stage is a key part of diplomacy, and we have been stepping in mud holes anytime it rains… in coastal DC.

Believe I heard that Team Trump ran some new infrastructure (comm lines, etc) under the patio which should complicate tearing out the paving. I would bet all my Trump coin that the ballroom will be constructed in a manner that it cannot simply be deleted.

torrid said:

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Additionally, I think the ballroom design is too large and out of portion with respect to the rest of the White House complex.

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I've heard that said a few times, but I'm wondering if there is a misunderstanding of the plan.

It's basically just expanding the East Wing. In the first picture, you can see the new extension, compared to the East Wing that already existed. Maybe people are seeing the entire new addition (ballroom + East Wing) and assuming it's all the ballroom?

The second pic shows an illustration of the new wing + ball room extension.

My main objection has also been the scale of the new ballroom.

The NYT has quoted a number of former WH employees from Dem and Rep administrations saying that a larger space for state dinners has been needed for 60 years.

This is an illustration from an article in the NYT that is based on a model that the Trump WH provided reporters. The scale is more apparent here.

AgGrad99 said:

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torrid said:

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Additionally, I think the ballroom design is too large and out of portion with respect to the rest of the White House complex.

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I've heard that said a few times, but I'm wondering if there is a misunderstanding of the plan.

It's basically just expanding the East Wing. In the first picture, you can see the new extension, compared to the East Wing that already existed. Maybe people are seeing the entire new addition (ballroom + East Wing) and assuming it's all the ballroom?

The second pic shows an illustration of the new wing + ball room extension.

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I think about the same vantage point. Whatever was there before was hidden by the trees (but I guess so is the South Portico in this shot). The expansion competes with the main structure for attention in my opinion.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/RyXa2zTqxW46NJLMA

flown-the-coop said:

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This is getting Not he Bee-ish…

The White House became my home when I was twelve years old. I always understood that it wasn’t my ‘house’; it was The People’s House. https://t.co/4nwSllGaRj

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) October 23, 2025

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"wrecking a place I called home" -- lol. Anyone with the last name Clinton should sit this one out given her dad and his cigar shenanigans in the White House.

4stringAg said:

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flown-the-coop said:

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This is getting Not he Bee-ish…

The White House became my home when I was twelve years old. I always understood that it wasn’t my ‘house’; it was The People’s House. https://t.co/4nwSllGaRj

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) October 23, 2025

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"wrecking a place I called home" -- lol. Anyone with the last name Clinton should sit this one out given her dad and his cigar shenanigans in the White House.

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Someone needs to add Monica a in that group hug.

People going to really, really freak out when the plans for the replacement to the West Wing are announced.

If you think Trump is going to stop at a ballroom, then you have not been paying attention.

flown-the-coop said:

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People going to really, really freak out when the plans for the replacement to the West Wing are announced.

If you think Trump is going to stop at a ballroom, then you have not been paying attention.

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Well, other than the name the only part that is really iconic is the Oval Office. Maybe the Roosevelt Room too? I'm sure those would be preserved. He could build some monstrosity that will at least balance the ballroom on the other side but still overshadow the main residence.

torrid said:

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My architectural thoughts on the White House updates.

The Rose Garden looks better a grassy area than as a paved patio. However, the Rose Garden is being updated and renovated all the time. The patio can be torn up and the lawn restored at a later date.

Additionally, I think the ballroom design is too large and out of portion with respect to the rest of the White House complex. However that is just my opinion, and the East Wing that was torn down was of no particular historic significance. The ballroom too can be torn down, and I believe it is not being built with taxpayer money.

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I agree with your sentiment.

The Rose Garden does look better as a grassy area, but I think it currently is the only place to formally host larger groups. It's about 40% larger than the east room. You can't have grass in a space that is likely very heavily trafficked and used in a variety of weather conditions.

The White House has three primary day to day functions. President's residence, office space for the chief executive, and event venue. It's never been optimized for the last function until now.

I don't think you'll get a sense that the new addition is out of proportion from Pennsylvania Ave/Lafayette Square. I think a few well placed large trees will do wonders to bring the look together from the south side.

Quote:

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The Rose Garden does look better as a grassy area, but I think it currently is the only place to formally host larger groups. It's about 40% larger than the east room. You can't have grass in a space that is likely very heavily trafficked and used in a variety of weather conditions.

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The Rose Garden was never intended to be used as an entertaining space or for other uses that have heavy foot traffic. It just sort of became that, despite the area having poor drainage. The grass got torn up at least once during every administration to try to fix the drainage, but they could never resolve it. I dislike what it looks like now; I think portions could have been covered with pavers while still keeping the character of the garden.

ReelAg6 said:

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I think a few well placed large trees will do wonders to bring the look together from the south side.

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And couple more rows of fencing.

Ryan the Temp said:

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Quote:

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The Rose Garden does look better as a grassy area, but I think it currently is the only place to formally host larger groups. It's about 40% larger than the east room. You can't have grass in a space that is likely very heavily trafficked and used in a variety of weather conditions.

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The Rose Garden was never intended to be used as an entertaining space or for other uses that have heavy foot traffic. It just sort of became that, despite the area having poor drainage. The grass got torn up at least once during every administration to try to fix the drainage, but they could never resolve it. I dislike what it looks like now; I think portions could have been covered with pavers while still keeping the character of the garden.

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They can roll some field turf out on the paved area if people really need to see a big grass area.

There was talk a few years ago that the new Marine One's needed a sturdier place to land and that the grass would need some alterations or paved areas to accommodate. Not sure where that wound up but I am sure people will be mad at any changes there.

Believe Trump cleaned up the infamous "Pebble Beach" area where the WH press pool sets up for outdoor shots. It was also known as a mudhole.

OldArmy71 said:

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My main objection has also been the scale of the new ballroom.

The NYT has quoted a number of former WH employees from Dem and Rep administrations saying that a larger space for state dinners has been needed for 60 years.

This is an illustration from an article in the NYT that is based on a model that the Trump WH provided reporters. The scale is more apparent here.

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Aside from the scale of the new building, the one thing I absolutely hate about this is the roof terrace. It will harm the symmetry of the building and require modification to the original 1792 facade. There is no need for a covered roof terrace that spans the entire length of the colonnade.

The East Wing was constructed on an area that is at a lower elevation than the WH, so that will help reduce how tall the building looks.

The one thing that hasn't really been discussed here, though is whether or not architectural plans even exist for it yet. I'm honestly not convinced they do. There is also new chatter that this project is a cover for rebuilding the PEOC, which would make a lot of sense, and would give them time to work out architectural plans for the ballroom. Drawings for a rebuilt PEOC almost certainly exist and I would guess have existed for some time.

I know nothing about the bunker, but wouldn't aerial/drone/satellite photos show that they were working on something deep?

EDIT: Well, everything I googled about the East Wing bunker says something like this:

Quote:

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There will also be security enhancements involving the underground bunker built under the East Wing during World War II, known as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center.

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For those who oppose the ballroom - have you ever been to a special event in a tent ? It's not real impressive to say the least. The fact that the White House doesn't already have a grand ballroom is a headscratcher.

Ag4life80 said:

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For those who oppose the ballroom - have you ever been to a special event in a tent ? It's not real impressive to say the least. The fact that the White House doesn't already have a grand ballroom is a headscratcher.

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I think the tent rental lobbyist are behind all the outrage from the left.

At least then their whining would have some basis, some meaning.

OldArmy71 said:

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I know nothing about the bunker, but wouldn't aerial/drone/satellite photos show that they were working on something deep?

EDIT: Well, everything I googled about the East Wing bunker says something like this:

Quote:

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There will also be security enhancements involving the underground bunker built under the East Wing during World War II, known as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center.

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Ironically, the site will likely be covered by a large tent one the site is cleared.

One also wonders if part of any "escalation" of the PEOC may be to meet with China building new bunkers and headquarters.

https://www.wsj.com/video/series/in-depth-features/why-china-is-building-a-military-city-10-times-the-size-of-the-pentagon/703F43CA-167F-4662-95E0-E889E5546F85

Quote:

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Why China is Building a 'Military City' 10 Times the Size of the Pentagon
China is building what is believed to be the world's biggest military command center. WSJ explains how this new base could reshape the global security landscape. Photo: Illustration: Xingpei Shen

By Wall Street Journal
July 1, 2025

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flown-the-coop said:

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Ag4life80 said:

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For those who oppose the ballroom - have you ever been to a special event in a tent ? It's not real impressive to say the least. The fact that the White House doesn't already have a grand ballroom is a headscratcher.

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I think the tent rental lobbyist are behind all the outrage from the left.

At least then their whining would have some basis, some meaning.

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I lived in Los Angeles long enough to know that the tent supporters are all on the Left.

Now that I live in Galveston, I see a couple of homeless people but there aren't the tent cities that the lefties love.

Ag4life80 said:

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For those who oppose the ballroom - have you ever been to a special event in a tent ? It's not real impressive to say the least. The fact that the White House doesn't already have a grand ballroom is a headscratcher.

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Looking at vinyl "walls" and walking around on a plywood floor really makes the experience. It's like you're not even at the White House.

4stringAg said:

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flown-the-coop said:

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This is getting Not he Bee-ish…

The White House became my home when I was twelve years old. I always understood that it wasn’t my ‘house’; it was The People’s House. https://t.co/4nwSllGaRj

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) October 23, 2025

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"wrecking a place I called home" -- lol. Anyone with the last name Clinton should sit this one out given her dad and his cigar shenanigans in the White House.

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They need to get their crying points aligned as Hillary was just yesterday emphatically screeching that it wasn't anyone's house except "we the people"

Teslag said:

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flown-the-coop said:

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This is getting Not he Bee-ish…

The White House became my home when I was twelve years old. I always understood that it wasn’t my ‘house’; it was The People’s House. https://t.co/4nwSllGaRj

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) October 23, 2025

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These same people will be hob knobbing it up with lobbyists and foreign leaders in this very same ballroom when the next Democrat wins the white house.

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The Clintons routinely rented out the Lincoln bedroom for $$$ political donations.

heavens11 said:

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4stringAg said:

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flown-the-coop said:

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This is getting Not he Bee-ish…

The White House became my home when I was twelve years old. I always understood that it wasn’t my ‘house’; it was The People’s House. https://t.co/4nwSllGaRj

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) October 23, 2025

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"wrecking a place I called home" -- lol. Anyone with the last name Clinton should sit this one out given her dad and his cigar shenanigans in the White House.

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They need to get their crying points aligned as Hillary was just yesterday emphatically screeching that it wasn't anyone's house except "we the people"

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And you reckon that goes for silverware and furniture?