Trump’s Ballroom Architect Is Skilled at Shrugging Off Outrage
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Architect Shalom Baranes accepted a Trump ballroom project despite professional criticism, continuing a pattern of pursuing high-profile controversial commissions.
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Shalom Baranes, an architect who emigrated from Libya and previously oversaw Pentagon renovations, has accepted a project for Trump's ballroom despite drawing criticism from fellow architects. Baranes has a track record of accepting high-profile commissions that generate public outrage, suggesting he is accustomed to professional backlash. His willingness to take on the Trump job reflects a broader pattern in his career of pursuing prestigious assignments regardless of controversy. The architect's background—rising from refugee status to prominent government and private sector work—underscores his established position in the industry, even as peers question his latest decision.
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