Supreme Court clears the way for Trump to stamp out a new White House ballroom
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5‑4 split, has granted President Donald Trump’s emergency request to proceed with a $400m ballroom at the White House, overturning lower‑court rulings that had halted construction.
The legal battle began when the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a suit arguing that the executive branch lacks unilateral authority to build on federal ground without explicit congressional approval. The court found that Trump’s administration could likely succeed in showing a risk of irreparable harm and that the balance of equities favored continuation.
The project, which Trump began last autumn after demolishing the historic East Wing, is intended to expand the White House’s event‑hosting capability and address security needs. The National Trust contended the construction would cause irreversible damage to a historic landmark.
Chief Justice John Roberts, who issued a stay, sided with three liberal justices to describe the construction as “likely unlawful,” but the majority opinion favored the administration’s stance, allowing construction to proceed while the lawsuit remains under review.
