A federal judge has criticised Donald Trump's plan to demolish the White House's East Wing and build a $400m ballroom, calling it 'brazen' and suggesting he may halt the project. Judge Richard Leon made the remarks during a hearing on a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), which seeks to stop construction until Congress approves and independent reviews are completed.
White House lawyers argue that Trump does not need external permission for the project, which began with demolition in October and is slated for completion by 2028. They claim the ballroom is needed for 'national security', that Congress allocated funds for alterations, and that private donors largely finance it, exempting it from scrutiny. Critics see it as an attempt to recreate the opulence of Mar-a-Lago.
In October, Trump fired all six members of the US Commission of Fine Arts reviewing the plan and replaced them with appointees who approved it. The National Capital Planning Commission postponed its vote to April due to public input. At the hearing, NTHP attorney Thaddeus Heuer accused the administration of delaying tactics, saying they 'forgotten the proverbial first law of holes'.
Judge Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, expressed scepticism about the government's shifting arguments and called the White House 'an iconic symbol', adding that Trump is a steward, not an owner. He is expected to rule by the end of March, noting his decision will likely be challenged and could reach the Supreme Court.
