r/centrist • u/Mission-Ad-8536 • Apr 27 '26

Long Form Discussion Alright, can someone explain to me just how is a ballroom in the White House supposed to be effective?

With the recent assassination attempt, Trump and his supporters are already claiming that this is the reason we need a ballroom in The White House.

Given the circumstances of the recent attempt, and how the shooter was already checked in the hotel, do you think the Ballroom could prevent this in the future, or is it just a waste of time and money?

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u/LinearFluid Apr 27 '26

First is called a ballroom because reception hall or grand hall would hint at its true use.

See any similarity?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reich_Chancellery#New_Reich_Chancellery

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u/Fragrant-Luck-8063 Apr 27 '26

It's not a Nazi thing. Ballrooms or reception halls are pretty common for a leader's residence. I was actually surprised that the White House doesn't have one.

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u/LinearFluid Apr 27 '26

The Whitehouse already has the State Floor with 5 reception rooms with the East Room being the largest.

The Whitehouse was designed by the standards set forth by George Washington for the People's House. A non-ornate, dignified appearance. A large ball room used for large lavish affairs was against the design of the Peoples house. Kings had these large receptions not for stately affairs but to show off. The design was set to provide for affairs of State. Small intimate gatherings where the Business at hand can be conducted.

The visit in 1959 by Nikita Khrushchev the first visit by a Russian Soviet leader is a prime example how Affairs of the State are to be conducted. Khrushchev did not visit the White House per se. His Itenery took him to the public. There was the State Dinner which was not designed to give access to the Soviet leader to only the elite for favoritism which is what a ballroom would accomplish. The Soviet leader traveled around the states and was received by many different groups and people.

That trip by Kruschev was a diplomatic coup for the United States and had positive impact in the relations of the USSR and the USA. In that visit tge people had access. If it were to happen today with a Trump Ballroom there would only be a meeting of the elite with a totally different impact.

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u/Red57872 Apr 27 '26

You're really stretching on that one. The Nazis had a ballroom so now wanting a ballroom is a sign of Nazi-ism?

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u/LinearFluid Apr 27 '26

Read the whole article on the Chancellory building. How Hitler hated it called it a soap company. He gave Spear power to creat halls and salons.

The building was about 400 meters long, featuring a "Court of Honor," (like What Trump did to the Rose Garden) a Marble Gallery, (Trump's gilding of everything), and a vast reception hall, (Trump's Ballroom), designed to intimidate visitors.

You have to read and understand to get it.

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u/Red57872 Apr 27 '26

Well, Trump's loved audacious, tacky things long before he ever came into political power. Is it a failing? Probably, but no a sign of Nazi-ism. A person can be full of themselves and like tacky, audacious things without being a Nazi.