A federal appeals court has ordered Donald Trump to halt construction on his £300 million ballroom at the White House, dealing a significant setback to the project. The ruling comes after months of legal battles over the 90,000-square-foot addition.
Court blocks construction
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded group mandated by Congress, filed a lawsuit and obtained an injunction halting construction, arguing that the president needed congressional approval. In March, an appeals panel allowed construction to continue while the lawsuit proceeded, but now the court has reversed that decision.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump criticized the ruling, calling the ballroom "desperately needed" and claiming the court had "refused to acknowledge" that it is "a gift from President Trump and Great Patriots of the United States of America." He added, "There will be no expense to the American taxpayer. This unjust decision must be overturned by the Supreme Court in its entirety."
Funding and criticism
Trump had previously stated that the ballroom would be funded by $400 million in private donations, after Democrats criticized the project as "expensive" and "frivolous." The court's ruling remains in effect for two weeks to allow time for an appeal to the Supreme Court. The court wrote, "Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help."
The ballroom is planned for the site of the White House's East Wing, which Trump ordered demolished. The court noted that the ruling "does not even necessarily mean that the Defendants may not ultimately construct the ballroom," but they cannot do so without congressional authorization.
Ongoing controversies
Trump's determination to build the ballroom was evident when construction continued during the arrival of King Charles and Queen Camilla in April, with cranes visible behind the ceremonial reception. This week also saw scrutiny of Trump's proposed 250-foot-tall triumphal arch, which the National Park Service said could compromise the historical significance of nearby sites.
Trump has raised hundreds of millions from corporations and wealthy donors, including himself, for the projects. However, Congress refused his request for $1 billion for the ballroom in May, and in June, Democrats warned that $350 million from a tax cuts law appeared to have been redirected for the ballroom.
