Trump Says He’ll Bring Ballroom Fight to Supreme Court after Lower Court Halts Work

On Friday, President Donald Trump announced his intention to seek a Supreme Court injunction to resume construction of a planned White House ballroom, following a lower court ruling that halted work. The appeals court ruled that Trump had exceeded his authority in demolishing part of the mansion and starting construction without congressional approval.

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit sided with a federal judge's April ruling that requires construction to cease until Congress expressly authorizes the project. Trump's Truth Social platform post criticized the appeals court's characterization of presidents as mere tenants of the White House, asserting that "WE ARE PRESIDENTS, elected by the people of the United States of America."

He claimed the right to "fix, renovate, secure, protect, and beautify the White House grounds" without congressional permission. Trump had previously relied on private donations to begin the project without seeking congressional appropriations, claiming it would benefit taxpayers. However, courts found that private financing did not excuse the need for congressional approval for major changes to the White House grounds.

The 90,000-square-foot addition was proposed last year, and Trump has demolished the White House's East Wing to make space for the project. Critics argue the ballroom project has drawn scrutiny from congressional Democrats, who are investigating potential quid pro quo arrangements with donors. The public has generally opposed the project according to polls.

GOP leaders in Congress supported the project earlier but have not prioritized legislation to authorize it, with some questioning the need for funding and Trump's transparency about the project's scope. Internal estimates suggested the project would cost $600 million, with half coming from taxpayers. The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently sued to block the ballroom construction, alleging Trump had improperly skipped required reviews and that only Congress could authorize significant changes to the White House grounds.

Despite the court challenges, construction has continued, with cranes and construction workers becoming regular sights at the White House. Trump has stated his intention to hold events in the ballroom before leaving office in January 2029, describing the project as necessary to protect presidents and secure the White House grounds.