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Trump asks Supreme Court to allow White House ballroom
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to allow White House ballroom construction to continue. The court's decision will determine the fate of a $400 million project.
Background
The Trump administration has been building a ballroom adjacent to the White House, which it says is necessary for national security. Lower courts have ruled against the construction, leading to an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court.
How it unfolded
- May 19, 2026Trump visited the construction site of the planned White House ballroom.
- Jul 30, 2026Construction on the ballroom was ongoing, as shown in a photo.
- Aug 6, 2026Construction continued on a new helipad and the East Wing ballroom.
- Aug 14, 2026The Trump administration filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court to allow construction to continue during appeal.
Who’s saying what
- Administration
- The injunction would wrongfully install a single district judge as sole arbiter of what construction is 'strictly necessary' for presidential safety.
- Critics
- The project is controversial and has been blocked by lower courts, suggesting it may not be legally justified.