U.S. District Judge Richard Leon declined a request from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to temporarily block President Trump’s planned White House ballroom construction.
The judge said the preservationists had not made a sufficient legal claim but allowed them the chance to amend their complaint and have the case reconsidered.
The big picture: The lawsuit aimed to halt the $400 million project, citing the need for congressional approval, independent reviews, and public comment under federal law.
- Trump celebrated the decision on Truth Social, calling the ruling “great news” and praising the planned ballroom as a symbol of American greatness.
- The new 90,000-square-foot ballroom is being funded mostly by private donors and is expected to be completed by 2028.
- Trump stressed that no taxpayer money is involved, claiming the project is ahead of schedule and under budget.
Go deeper: The judge noted ambiguity over the president’s legal authority for the project and said the case could proceed further if the central statutory claims are properly presented.
- Trump expressed confidence that construction will move forward, declaring the ballroom will stand as a future symbol of America’s greatness.
