NYT
The Case of the Disappearing, Reappearing White House Ballroom Stairs
Friday, August 21, 2026
A grand staircase in the White House ballroom was removed during a previous administration but appears in architectural plans for renovation under President Trump. Architects had criticized the staircase as serving no structural purpose. The staircase was not approved by a planning commission before its original removal.
Original reporting: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/upshot/ballroom-trump-white-house.html
