US court blocks Trump's White House ballroom construction

A U.S. appeals court has blocked President Donald Trump's controversial plan to build a ballroom at the White House, ruling that congressional approval is necessary for the project. The court upheld a preliminary injunction, halting construction on the $400 million ballroom slated for the former East Wing site.

The ruling stated that Congress has not granted the administration unlimited authority to alter the White House according to a president's specific desires. The Trump administration has 14 days to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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will immediately appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States

In response, Trump announced on his platform Truth Social that an appeal would be filed immediately. He described the court's decision as "completely wrong" and urged the Supreme Court to overturn it.

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completely wrong

The lawsuit was initiated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation after the administration demolished the East Wing and began construction without congressional consent. While a federal judge had previously stopped above-ground construction, underground work was allowed to continue. The Justice Department argued that courts should not review the privately funded project, citing national security concerns and inadequate protection in the old East Wing.

The proposed ballroom would span 8,360 square meters, significantly larger than a football field. Trump had previously defended the project and its doubled costs, attributing the increase to the ballroom's larger size and higher quality compared to initial plans. He assured the building would be "great and safe."

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unjust decision