Trump asks US Supreme Court to approve White House ballroom project

On August 14, the Trump administration petitioned the US Supreme Court to permit the completion of a ballroom and an underground bunker at the White House, citing national security needs. Solicitor General John Sauer made the emergency appeal to the conservative Supreme Court, which includes three justices appointed by President Donald Trump.

The project, initially ordered by Trump to demolish the historic East Wing for the ballroom, faced legal challenges in lower courts, with an appellate court upholding a district court's injunction to halt work but putting it on hold to allow for an appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump had previously called the ruling "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful" and vowed to appeal.

The solicitor general emphasized the security aspects of the project, arguing that the injunction is unconstitutional and infringing on the President's authority to renovate, secure, and protect the White House without Congressional consent. The project, which could cost up to $600 million, is just one of Trump's numerous initiatives to leave his mark on Washington, with several others facing legal challenges.