Trump announces granite helipad for White House lawn, says Sikorsky will pay

President Donald Trump revealed plans for a new granite helipad on the White House South Lawn, a project he described as "really a beautiful thing" featuring the seal of the White House carved in granite. Trump told reporters that the landing area is necessary to accommodate new, more powerful presidential helicopters that have struggled to land on the existing lawn without causing damage.

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It's got the seal of the White House on it in granite, in carved granite. It's really a beautiful thing.

Construction crews had already begun work on the helipad. Trump estimated the cost at up to $6 million and insisted the project would be privately funded. He specifically named Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, as the entity paying for the helipad. This marks the latest in a series of construction projects Trump has initiated to reshape the White House grounds.

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This specific contribution was made to the Trust for the National Mall, the National Park Service's non-profit organization and conducted in full accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

While Trump suggested private funding, a statement from Lockheed Martin indicated the contribution was made to the Trust for the National Mall, a non-profit organization supporting the National Park Service, and was conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The need for the helipad stems from issues with new VH-92A helicopters, which are too powerful for the current lawn. Their downward-facing exhaust vents can scorch the grass, preventing their use at the White House and leading to the continued service of older helicopters.

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It's not that the grass gets discolored, it gets ripped out.