The original architect of Donald Trump's White House ballroom reportedly clashed repeatedly with the president over emergency exits and fire protections before withdrawing from the project, with Trump reportedly dismissing the concerns by saying, 'I am the code.'

James McCrery II withdrew from the project in October 2025 after raising safety concerns about preliminary ballroom designs, according to The Washington Post, which cited two people familiar with the discussions and documents it reviewed.

The White House strongly disputes that disagreements over building codes caused McCrery's departure, while the architect himself has not publicly given a specific reason for leaving.

According to The Post, McCrery told the White House that Trump's preferred preliminary design did not meet fire-safety standards he believed should govern the project.

His concerns reportedly included inadequate alternative escape routes and insufficient measures to prevent a kitchen fire from spreading rapidly into the ballroom above.

Trump reportedly rejected the concerns by arguing that building codes did not apply to White House construction. 'I am the code,' he said, according to the two people cited by The Post.

Documents reviewed by the newspaper showed that a White House project meeting on 30 September 2025 discussed 'areas of concern' and contractor comments about the design.

Records from subsequent meetings continued to flag life-safety issues. McCrery resigned during the week of 20 October.

The White House rejected the suggestion that McCrery left because of disagreements over building codes.

A spokesman told The Post it would be 'factually false and totally inaccurate' to connect his departure to code issues, adding that fire and safety standards had remained a priority throughout the project.