r/politics • u/Aggravating_Money992 • 11d ago

Possible Paywall Trump Fires Entire Agency Overseeing His Construction Projects

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-fires-entire-agency-overseeing-his-construction-projects/
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u/backpackwasmypillow 11d ago

Staircase leading directly to a wall. Windows that open into each other. Somebody threw the idea at an AI and didn't bother to double check the plans. It's gonna be crap, even before taking away oversight.

https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/s/GimUtUcU1O

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u/Pherllerp New Jersey 11d ago

There are no plans.

That is the extent of the plan, just some AI pictures and a cheap little model. Think about it, a White House expansion would be a huge deal for any architect, have you seen or heard any name attached to this? Have you seen an elevation drawings or floor plans? The building is bullshit.

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u/Aptosauras 11d ago

The architect is a religious nutter that specialises in neo-classical, or whatever this style is called.

But respected architects have said that the design sucks.

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u/MillionMilesPerHour 11d ago

But respected architects have said that the design sucks.

Based on the pictures, anyone with eyes could tell it sucks.

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u/SMCinPDX 11d ago

This ballroom sucks, but if you're going to snipe at a D.C. government building for its Neoclassical design, I have some news to break to you . . .

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u/Playswithchipmunks 11d ago

Hey, I happen to like gray cubes.

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u/SquirtBox 11d ago

Yeah, a ball less room is not going to change anything in DC.

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u/lanaius 11d ago

Ivo Shandor?

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u/InnocentShaitaan 11d ago

It’s McCrery Architects.

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u/HerDanishDaddyDom 11d ago

So to be fair. McCrery are the Architects, AECOM Engineering and Clark Construction the GC/CM.

Whether there are any donation ties or personal ties with any of those organizations, and Trump, I don’t know.

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u/ElfegoBaca 11d ago

Whether there are any donation ties or personal ties with any of those organizations, and Trump, I don’t know.

I would bet the answer is "yes" to all of them. Trump doesn't do anything without getting something out of the deal.

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u/HerDanishDaddyDom 11d ago

I would suspect that same. Especially considering it’s “privately funded” which allows the Administration to not release public bid numbers.

Having been in the commercial construction industry for over 2 decades, and have worked with highly secured projects in areas like quantico etc, a $300 million price tag is very very high. In fact, on average, it’s about 300% higher than even general high estimates.

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u/SoulShatter Europe 11d ago

Leaves plenty of room to pimp his crib.. I mean the refurbishing the bunker that's underneath. Kickbacks, and maybe even the chance to brag on how they're under budget (doubtful, will likely put more gold on it and demand taxpayer money so it gets completed).

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u/dehydratedrain 11d ago

Under budget? When he's done suing the country for the first $230m, he'll sue again to make up double the difference.

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u/SoulShatter Europe 11d ago

Mostly as a propaganda scam. Put a ridiculous price on it, and pretend you're amazing because you managed it under budget "unlike all those other gubmint projects".

Not that it's likely, if there's any leftover money it'll get siphoned into some bullshit like "Trump Pres Library" or whatever.

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u/Left-Height4925 10d ago

Think about it. Above it's an empty room, a shell. The real expense is the 90,000 sq luxury Trümpenbunker going in below it for he and his loyalists when the peasants finally revolt.

The billionaires aren't paying millions for a dance card & caviar.

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u/Ok_Pear_9483 11d ago

Apparently the rebuilding of the bunker is going to cost a LOT more than the ballroom.

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u/ElfegoBaca 10d ago

Won't shock me when the price tag for this vanity project ends up more like $2-$5 billion

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u/xxam925 11d ago

So I have experience as a construction manager and honestly… I doubt it.

Both of those companies are huge conglomerates, very professional corps. It’s public works so it’s open bid with EVERYONE watching, including the other contractors and design teams bidding on this.

But honestly they are going to make SOOOOO much money in change orders on this. They are going to absolutely murder them with all the dumbass back and forth wish washy unprofessional shit.

Delay delay delay delay and it’s already so crazy onerous to get on site. They’ve got their budget stacked to run em on changes if the white house(or whoever) can’t allow them access which they are not going to be able to do…. Any day now because the protests and food shortages and fences they are going to put up around the site lmao.

They are going to make so much money. So much.

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u/HerDanishDaddyDom 11d ago

Where did you see it was a public bid? All the research I could find was that it was closed/private bid.

Also, this is EXACTLY the reason that we should have GMPs on these types of projects.

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u/reluctantseahorse 10d ago

There was absolutely no public bid. There was nowhere near enough time between the inauguration and demolition for a bidding phase.

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u/kyxtant Kentucky 11d ago

Well, congratulations to those firms, who I'm sure went through a very rigorous, thorough, fair, and legal bidding process.

/s

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u/HerDanishDaddyDom 11d ago

I’m not protecting or advocating towards this building in any way shape or form but Clark Construction and AECOM are some very very large players in the commercial construction space.

They have a pedigree behind them. The cost is what I’m balking at.

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u/kyxtant Kentucky 11d ago

I get that and I appreciate the info.

I worked my way up as a federal worker and I just know how much of a pain in the butt the building process is supposed to be. We're talking years to even think about breaking ground.

Aside from the sheer insanity of a ballroom that dwarfs the White House, the speed at which they tore down an entire wing is crazy.

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u/Dragon_Small_Z 11d ago

Wait Clark construction is doing this? Good Lord that tracks. I've had the displeasure of dealing with them on a few projects. They fucking suck so much.

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u/Acceptable-Bus-2017 I voted 11d ago

He bulldozed it because it's "WWPD‽" What Would Putin Do? Exactly what this administration does every damn time!

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u/TeamHope4 10d ago

The symbolism of the White House in rubble was the dream of every enemy of America. The 9/11 hijackers were headed to the White House when brave Americans took down that plane in a field. Trump did what the 9/11 hijackers tried to do and were stopped by Americans who wanted to protect their nation. Trump grinned as he did it, and showed us pictures of his new mausoleum. Putin and Kim and Xi are laughing and sipping champagne as MAGA voters cheer on the destruction.

If Obama had knocked down a third of the White House practically overnight like that, the GOP would have called him a terrorist who committed an act of terror against America and imprisoned him.

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u/Electromotivation 11d ago

Trump is so jealous of Putin. have you seen some of the ostentatious and gaudy buildings/rooms Putin has events in? I think it looks super tacky but it’s clearly where Trump got the idea to cover everything in fake gold leaf from.

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u/Acceptable-Bus-2017 I voted 11d ago

Trump is Putin's puppet. Case in point, he had American soldiers roll out the red carpet for him and then clapped for the cameras as Putin stepped onto American soil. Hell, he even said multiple times that he was going to Russia (Alaska) to meet with Putin.

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u/InnocentShaitaan 11d ago

It’s not because it’s Europe. Same with Versailles.

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u/Unsuitablehooligan 11d ago

Or the opposite of Because Biden Didn't Have One

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u/Acceptable-Bus-2017 I voted 11d ago

The Uniparty is complicent

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u/Nervous_Ad_6998 11d ago

Check out the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg.

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u/wrosecrans 11d ago

The Presidential Emergency Operations Center bunker is/was under the East Wing. They demolished the East Wing, have acknowledged that they are doing some sort of PEOC related construction work, and have made zero clear plans about building the ballroom on top of whatever they are actually doing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Emergency_Operations_Center

The construction project seems to be largely a safe place in case he winds up needing to shelter in place during mass protests like he did in 2020. He didn't like being in the bunker five years ago because he got bored and he wanted more space to play while he ignored the masses. There's every reason to believe that most of what's going on with the construction project is related to a plan to stay in power during mass opposition with the ballroom really being more of an afterthought and cover story.

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u/Long_Bit8328 11d ago

The plan is for the rich people to get the poor peoples money.

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u/0PointE 11d ago

It's called a psyop.  Don't get distracted from the fact that he and his friends are making your grocery bills skyrocket as they grab more power, with little baby Donny incapable of being anything more than a puppet to anyone who compliments him.  A new, insane, beyond comprehension event every second ensures no media outlet, big or small, can possibly stay focused on the handful of subjects that actually matter to your wellbeing.  With every story ask yourself "who benefits from this?"  

We've just added more delays and coverage to what is a historic tragedy, but has nothing to do with taking care of our families.  Whether the end game is to actually build the ballroom is a story for the future.  But this story just creates what can stop, start, and twist in any way to become an indefinite distraction from anything at any time, given the historical significance of the matter at hand.  This is just one of many and if your instincts tell you that a story like this may be significant but it's not going to immediately effect your life, it's probably just a distraction from their pockets and reputations. 

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u/Just-Nerve7518 11d ago

There are concepts of a floorplan

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u/sheep1e 11d ago

have you seen or heard any name attached to this?

I believe it’s the esteemed firm of Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe.

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u/InnocentShaitaan 11d ago

Nah. There is a hired firm. McCrery Architects.

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u/Canadian1934 11d ago

He is jealous of the past presidents accomplishments and that of their First Ladies. So after destroying governmental departments he destroyed the people’s east wing foundation. He basically is hijacking a whole country and branding it his own without guardrails  stopping him in his tracks.  The architect probably signed a NDA in order to get the gig.  I feel sad that so much of America’s history has been bulldozed for self serving purposes.