Trump administration says ballroom construction must go on, citing missile threat on Air Force One

Key Points:

• The Trump administration’s solicitor general petitioned the Supreme Court to suspend a D.C. Circuit Court ruling that ordered a halt to the White House ballroom's aboveground construction, citing national security concerns and the need for a secure space.
• The appeals court ruled that President Trump lacks unilateral authority to build the 90,000-square-foot ballroom without Congressional approval, siding with historic preservationists who challenged the project’s legality.
• The administration revealed that a recent missile threat against Air Force One prompted a secret evacuation of Trump from Turkey, using this to justify the ballroom’s security importance.
• The project is reportedly 65% complete, funded largely by private donations, though Democrats dispute the funding sources and note that Congress has not approved additional requested funds.
• Preservationists accuse the administration of trying to bypass judicial oversight by accelerating construction, while the administration argues the president has broad authority over White House renovations and the plaintiffs lack legal standing.