Between luxury and intimidation: Trump builds a lavish ballroom and launches a “hall of shame” to discipline the press

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With an estimated capacity of up to 1,000 guests and a cost that exceeds US$300 millionfinanced entirely by private contributions, the project has been questioned for its opacity, the selection of donors and the political background of an infrastructure that, according to critics of the initiative, seeks to project strength, grandeur and a personalist aesthetic of power. For defenders of the work, however, it is about modernizing a functional space for receptions and state events.

Among the private donors Mentioned so far include large technology companies such as Amazon, Apple and Meta. Also powerful business families like the Fanjul, Cuban-American sugar magnates. and his own trump.

In parallel, the so-called “hall of shame”—a digital space where the White House publishes examples of what it considers bad journalistic practices—has deepened the confrontation with traditional media. Organizations defending press freedom warn that this strategy seeks to stigmatize reporters and newsrooms, creating a climate of intimidation that could limit uncomfortable questions and reinforce the official narrative that a large part of the press acts with political bias. The government maintains that this is a “necessary correction” to combat disinformation.

Bigger than the White House

trump He first spoke about the ballroom in 2011, when he was not yet president. He said in an interview that he was willing to build it, and that he would do it as a donation. Now, the promise is on its way to becoming a reality.

At the end of July, the White House reported on the construction and initially said that it would cost US$200 million, a figure that the US press updated to US$250 million, and finally Trump himself admitted in October that the budget will reach US$300 million.

The initially announced size of the ballroomabout 8,361 square meters, It represents almost double the size of the current White House building. The previous architects wanted to adjust the new construction to the classic design of the government house, something with which Trump disagreed.

The official images released by the White House show an attached structure of bulletproof glass and marbleconnected to the main residence through an underground corridor.

The White House has said that the ballroom will be ready for use before Trump’s term ends in January 2029.

The project, according to an official statement, seeks to provide the presidential residence with “a modern, safe and functional space for official receptions and diplomatic events.”

When the announcement was made, it was said that the White House would not be touched. Even Trump himself stated that “it will not interfere with the current building. It will not. It will be close, but not touching, and it fully respects the existing building.”

However, On October 21, heavy machinery began to demolish the East Wing of the emblematic building built between 1792 and 1800. The first lady’s office has historically functioned in that section. There is also a small theater and a guest reception area, among other environments.

Several heritage preservation groups — such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation — question the lack of prior review by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which is supposed to oversee modifications to federal properties. The demolitions, according to leaked documents, would have begun before the complete evaluation of the project.

Personality cult

For the international analyst Francisco Belaunde Matossian, “the ballroom project is a direct extension of Donald Trump’s cult of personality.”

“He had already done renovations in the White House, adding gold and ostentatious details; it is part of his style. This new space does not respond to a functional need, but to the desire to leave a mark, to affirm its power through architecture.. There is something deeply frivolous and narcissistic about that.”he points out.

Belaunde draws a parallel with other world leaders who have used monumental architecture as an instrument of power. “Trump is in the line of great autocrats who seek to immortalize themselves through buildings. He even talks about building a triumphal arch, which reveals a Napoleonic drive, like Kim Jong-un in North Korea. He is convinced that power must be materialized in stone, marble and gold.”

Regarding the controversy over the demolition of the East Wing, supposedly skipping some procedures, the analyst warns that the problem is not only patrimonial, but institutional.

“Trump acts on impulse. He makes decisions without going through regular channels, without waiting for reviews or prior authorizations. It is part of his pattern of behavior: he decides first and legalizes later. That logic, applied to a national symbol like the White House, reveals the extent to which his government functions under his own personal order,” holds.

Ambassador Juan Álvarez Vita agrees that The construction is “one more expression of the cult of personality that surrounds Trump.”

“Like many of his decisions, responds to a need to leave a mark, “to project an image of personal rather than institutional greatness,” points to The Commerce.

Álvarez Vita highlights that the project reflects a growing disconnection between the president and broad sectors of American society. “There is an obvious discomfort among citizens. Many say: ‘we don’t want kings’. It is a form of rejection of those types of ostentatious gestures that are more reminiscent of monarchs than presidents.””, he adds.

Against traditional media

About him “hall of shame” virtual, the White House said in a statement that “the portal, which can be classify and update periodicallyguarantees that no hoax, no fictitious ‘anonymous source’ and no partisan slander will again fall into oblivion.”

One of the first decisions was to designate the newspaper “The Washington Post” as “criminal of the week”, for publishing an article with two anonymous sources that claimed that the Secretary of War, Pete Hegsethordered a Joint Special Operations commander to “kill everyone” during counterterrorism operations in the Caribbean Sea.

Other media outlets have also been included, such as “The New York Times”, CNN, CBS News and “The Independent”.

The other categories listed on the site are “omission of information,” “false statement,” “malpractice,” “mischaracterization,” “misrepresentation,” and “leftist folly.”

The Washington Post responded to the government that “will continue to report with rigor and precision at the service of all of America.”

In this regard, Belaunde Matossian says that since he came to power in January The relationship between Trump and the media is “terrible”and that the president has intensified his verbal attacks against journalists and critical media, even going so far as to publicly insult female reporters and constantly discredit the liberal press.

“Trump only tolerates those who support him. Anyone who criticizes him is the object of his fury,” he states.

In his opinion, USA runs the risk of going backwards in international democratic indices. “I wouldn’t be surprised if The Economist’s next report no longer classifies the United States as a full democracy, but as a hybrid regime. “That’s what we’re going towards,” warns.

The specialist strongly questions the launch of the “hall of shame”. For him, represents “another very serious attack on press freedom”. Remember that Trump himself has spread unverified claims and says that using the presidential platform to label journalists as disinformers is dangerous.

“Disagreements between the government and the press will always exist, but for the presidency to systematically attack journalism is unacceptable. This can even open the door to physical attacks.”, alert.

Regarding whether this climate can generate self-censorship in the press, Belaunde estimates that The major American media will continue to do their work, although taking extreme precautions.

“Trump is used to suing the media and asking for million-dollar compensation, as Rafael Correa did in Ecuador. This forces the newsrooms to take more care of themselves, but they are not going to back down”he assures.

The expert also criticizes the White House’s strategy of reducing the space allocated to traditional journalists to make room for influencers and content creators related to the government. Consider that this practice seeks to displace professional reporters and replace critical scrutiny with voices that unquestioningly reproduce Trump’s message.

“The United States, which has historically been a benchmark in freedom of expression, is replicating models from other countries where flattery is rewarded and serious journalism is punished,” holds. Belaunde concludes with irony: “Trump governs as if he wants to be a kind of Kim Jong Trump. What he seeks is adulation, not democratic control.”