Trump defends ballroom to Supreme Court as military complex
In a filing made public Friday, the U.S. president asked the justices for an emergency order letting construction continue without restrictions while a legal fight continues.
U.S. President Donald Trump has appealed to the Supreme Court in an attempt to secure permission to proceed with the construction of a vast new ballroom at the White House. This legal move comes after two lower courts ruled that Trump was acting unlawfully by advancing the project without obtaining the necessary congressional authorization.
In a filing made public on Friday, Trump requested an emergency order from the justices, allowing the construction to continue without any restrictions while a court battle continues. An appeals court ruling effectively halting most above-ground work is set to take effect on August 21, unless the highest court intervenes. This request places the Supreme Court at the center of a highly symbolic legal showdown, highlighting Trump's efforts to unilaterally alter the appearance of the nation's capital.
If successfully completed, the proposed ballroom addition would span an impressive 90,000 square feet, making it larger than both the White House mansion and the West Wing combined. To accommodate the structure, Trump has decided to demolish the existing East Wing. The ballroom would also feature a security bunker beneath it, further emphasizing its grandeur and strategic significance.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
