US Supreme Court allows Trump ballroom project to proceed

In a significant victory for President Donald Trump, the US Supreme Court has allowed the construction of his White House ballroom to proceed, the court granting him a major win against those opposing the project. The conservative-majority court voted 5-4 to overturn a lower court's order that had halted construction. Chief Justice John Roberts, who earlier issued a temporary order permitting work while the full court considered the matter, joined the three liberal justices in dissenting.

President Trump hailed the ruling, stating that it eliminates all further threats to the project, which will now be completed by mid-2028. The project, which includes a ballroom and a military bunker, has sparked controversy in Washington, with critics arguing that Trump acted unlawfully by ordering the demolition of the entire East Wing of the White House.

The Supreme Court's decision means construction will continue while a lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation proceeds in lower courts, a process that could take months or years.

The court's ruling asserts that the government is likely to win the ongoing lawsuit, as the National Trust may not have the legal standing to bring the claim. The dissenting justices argued that the project is likely unlawful, as Congress has not passed a law granting the administration express authority to undertake it. However, they acknowledged that the case will be decided in lower courts, and the court has not made a final ruling on the legality of the ballroom project.