Supreme Court’s 5-4 Vote Lets Trump Proceed as Roberts Calls Ballroom “Likely Unlawful”
The Supreme Court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump to continue construction of a ballroom at the White House.
The court ruled 5-4 on Monday against pausing the project. Chief Justice John Roberts dissented, joined by the court’s liberal justices. Even so, the ruling allows construction to move forward while the broader legal fight continues.
The case began after the National Trust for Historic Preservation sued the Trump Administration. A federal judge blocked the project earlier this year. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals then said Congress has authority over modifications to federal property.
The Trump Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to intervene. Solicitor General John Sauer argued that the planned ballroom should be treated as a military asset because it includes a subterranean bunker and a rooftop drone port.
Roberts had temporarily allowed construction to continue last week. His stay remained in place while the justices considered whether to pause the lower court’s injunction. On Monday, the high court sided with Trump, though Roberts wrote that the ballroom construction is “likely unlawful.”
“The government has also established that it will likely suffer irreparable harm from the district court’s injunction and that the balance of the equities tips in its favor,”
The ballroom plan was announced by the Trump White House last summer. The administration said the White House has needed a larger event space for generations.
“For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed. President Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people,”
The White House also argued that the current setup forces officials to use a large tent away from the main building for major events.
“The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance. The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of ornately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House,”
Trump has sharply criticized the lawsuit and the people behind it. In a Truth Social post, he wrote:
“These are the TREASONISTS that brought the suit against the Military Complex. They revealed Top Military Secrets!”
After the Supreme Court ruling, Trump celebrated what he described as a major victory. He said the project is funded privately, remains under budget, and is ahead of schedule.
I am pleased to report that the United States Supreme Court has just ruled in favor of the Ballroom/Military Complex being built without any further contingency, doubt, or threat. We are living in the Golden Age of America, and this Building will be one of the Greatest ever constructed in Washington, D.C. When completed in the Summer of 2028, the magnificent Ballroom and Military Complex will be something that the entire Country is very proud of. The Project, despite the baseless lawsuit brought by the so-called National Trust for Historic Preservation of the United States, which is not in any way affiliated with the United States Government, is under budget and ahead of schedule. The Ballroom is totally funded by Great Patriots and Corporations and, therefore, is a Gift — At no cost to the American Taxpayer. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP