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🇩🇰 Denmark /Crime & Justice

Supreme Court clears way for Trump's costly White House ballroom

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Ongoing story
  • The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Donald Trump's administration can continue building a $400 million ballroom at the White House.
  • Five of the court's six conservative justices supported the decision, while Chief Justice John Roberts dissented and called the project "probably illegal" because Congress had not approved it.
  • The 8,360-square-metre ballroom would replace the demolished East Wing and hold 1,000 guests, after a preservation group sued over Trump's authority to order the work.

The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed Donald Trump's administration to continue construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, even as the chief justice warned that the project is "probably illegal."

The court ruled 5-4 on Monday, with five of its six conservative justices backing the decision. Chief Justice John Roberts was the only conservative justice to oppose it. He wrote that the project likely lacked the congressional approval required for the work.

Trump ordered the White House East Wing demolished last year at short notice and without congressional approval. The proposed replacement would cover 8,360 square metres and accommodate 1,000 guests. The project is valued at about 2.6 billion Danish kroner.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation originally brought the lawsuit, arguing that Trump exceeded his authority by ordering the East Wing's demolition and beginning construction. Trump has described the ballroom as an important addition to the White House and a lasting symbol of his presidency.

The ruling allows the disputed construction to proceed while the legal challenge over presidential authority and congressional approval continues.

probably illegal

— John RobertsThe chief justice used the phrase in his dissent, citing the project's lack of congressional approval.
About this summary

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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