Trump says he’ll appeal decision halting ballroom construction to the Supreme Court

Key Points:

• A federal appeals court upheld a ruling blocking construction of a new White House ballroom but allowed below-ground work related to security facilities to continue, emphasizing that Congress must authorize such changes.
• The court criticized the Trump administration for unilaterally demolishing part of the White House without congressional approval, stating the President is a temporary tenant without ownership authority over the property.
• President Trump condemned the ruling as politically motivated and a national security threat, vowing to appeal to the Supreme Court, while the National Trust for Historic Preservation praised the decision as protecting a historic American landmark.
• The ruling clarified that the case does not address the desirability of the ballroom itself but enforces constitutional limits on executive power regarding White House modifications.
• A dissenting judge argued the lower court overstepped by halting construction, claiming the President likely has authority over such improvements, but the majority disagreed, maintaining the injunction against ballroom construction without congressional consent.