Trump tells Supreme Court 'unprecedented' threats make ballroom vital
Key Points:
- The Trump administration argues that completing the $400 million White House ballroom is a national security imperative, citing unprecedented threat levels against President Trump and urging the Supreme Court to prevent construction delays.
- A federal judge ordered a halt to above-ground construction, supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which claims the project could become irreversible and threatens the White House's historic integrity.
- The administration maintains that construction is 65% complete, major changes are no longer feasible, and the project addresses urgent security needs without requiring congressional approval.
- The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the construction halt but delayed enforcement to allow the administration to seek Supreme Court intervention, emphasizing Congress's role in overseeing major White House projects.
- President Trump has criticized the lawsuit and the preservation group, defending the ballroom as necessary for large official events and highlighting his history of making significant changes to the White House grounds.