Trump asks Supreme Court to allow ballroom construction

The administration of US President Donald Trump has sought the US Supreme Court's permission to proceed with the construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House. This request follows an appeals court ruling that the project lacked the necessary Congressional approval. The Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court to halt the ruling of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, allowing them to prepare a full appeal.

Justice Department lawyers in their filing supported Trump's claim that the ballroom is a security necessity, citing numerous assassination attempts against the President and labeling the project as "vitally required by national security." The DC Circuit, in a 2-1 ruling on August 7, upheld an order by a lower-court judge to halt above-ground construction of the ballroom.

The appeals court stated that determining whether to construct a massive ballroom is a decision for Congress, not an action the Executive branch can take unilaterally. The National Trust for Historic Preservation initiated the case last year, after Trump's administration demolished the East Wing and started building the 8,360-square-meter ballroom without obtaining congressional authorization.

Trump has defended the project, describing it as a "military center" and emphasizing the security features, including bomb shelters, medical facilities, and protection from drones and missiles. He described the DC Circuit's decision as "horrendous" and politically motivated, insisting that it leaves him, other White House officials, and visitors vulnerable to attack.

Trump emphasized that the entire ballroom plan, considered as a single complex unit, necessitates the reversal of the Supreme Court's decision.