Trump's Grandiose Architectural Plans for the White House

Donald Trump's second term has brought a radical transformation of the White House, reflecting his taste for ostentatious classicism. The new White House State Ballroom, replacing the demolished east wing, will span approximately 8,000 square meters, dwarfing the original 5,000-square-meter central building. The project is likely funded by donations from tycoons. Architect James C. McCrery, who trained under Peter Eisenman, is designing the ballroom. Trump's executive order "Make America Beautiful Again" from 2020 promoted classical style for federal buildings, reversing the modernist tradition since the 1960s. The president also plans a triumphal arch for 2026, the 250th anniversary of American Independence, to be erected opposite the Lincoln Memorial toward Arlington Cemetery. The article draws parallels to historical American architectural debates, from Thomas Jefferson's classical ideals to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, where the classical style prevailed over the Chicago School. It notes that the Guggenheim Museum refused to lend a Van Gogh to Trump in 2016, instead offering Maurizio Cattelan's solid gold toilet "America."