White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Donald Trump's controversial $400 million ballroom project. Leavitt responded to criticism from experts who questioned the ballroom's architecture, dismissing their opinions in a post on her X account. In her post, Leavitt criticized The New York Times for publishing an article with opinions from people without construction experience. On the other hand, she praised Trump, arguing that he and his lead architect have built world-class buildings and that the ballroom has been needed for decades, at no cost to taxpayers.

The New York Times article was written by Emily Badger, who writes about urban planning; Junho Lee, an architect; and Larry Buchanan, who has studied fine arts. The project, initially estimated at $200 million, is now estimated at $400 million due to its extravagant design, including high ceilings and a grand staircase. Trump claims that the project is funded by private donations.

The New York Times article dissected the ballroom's architecture, criticizing its size and the lack of functionality of the grand staircase. The structure appears 60% larger than the residence when viewed from the south, disrupting its symmetry. The staircase does not lead to any doors, suggesting a redundant addition. Another criticized element is the massive columns, which could block the view and natural light. The ballroom's architect, Shalom Baranes, confirmed that the south portico is an “aesthetic decision”.

Trump's ballroom proposal has drawn criticism for several reasons, including the lack of approval for the demolition of the East Wing by key oversight bodies. An X user commented on Leavitt's post: “Inflation is rising, oil prices are climbing, people are losing their jobs. Meanwhile, the White House is focused on a ballroom.”

The National Capital Planning Commission delayed the vote on Trump's ballroom proposal at the White House until April 2, citing the large volume of public comments against it. This decision reflects the strong public reaction to the project and its details. Despite the criticism, some Trump supporters praised the design in Karoline Leavitt's X post.

One user commented: “The New York Times sent a fine arts student, an urban planning writer and an architect who has never built anything to critique a man who has built skyscrapers around the world.” Another user offered an explanation of the design, arguing that the entrance is not intended to be at the top of the Grand Staircase, but that the bollards are there to prevent bomb attacks. The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on the project on Thursday.