Donald Trump and his family could be placed in significant danger if the construction of a $400 million White House ballroom is halted, according to the administration. A district judge in Washington DC recently sparked the president’s anger by pausing work on this luxurious extension. The White House legal team has now requested a federal appeals court to overturn this decision and allow construction to resume.
In a motion submitted on Friday, the lawyers argued that the judge’s order poses a “threat of grave national-security harms” to the White House, the president, his family, and his staff. They claim that materials are being installed to make the site “heavily fortified,” with the ballroom project also including a bomb shelter and military installations, as reported by the Guardian. Additionally, the side of the mansion has been left “open and exposed,” according to the lawyers, following President Trump’s decision to proceed with the demolition of the historic East Wing without consultation.
The motion also states that the district court lacked the authority to handle the case, suggesting that the lawsuit was based on “a single pedestrian’s subjective architectural feelings.” This argument highlights the administration’s stance that the court overstepped its bounds.
According to the Guardian, Judge Leon, who was appointed by George W. Bush, addressed national security concerns in his ruling and exempted construction necessary for the building’s security from his order. The motion further asserts that the president has complete authority to renovate the White House.
Leon’s decision came after a preliminary injunction from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sought to pause construction due to their lawsuit alleging that Trump exceeded his authority with the project. In response to the ruling, Trump took to Truth Social, labeling the organization as a “Radical Left Group of Lunatics.”
The creation of the ballroom is part of the president’s broader vision to transform the heart of the US capital during his final term in office. Other projects currently in development include a 250-foot triumphal arch. Additionally, Trump has already unilaterally added his name to the title of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
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