President Donald Trump announced on Friday, August 7th, 2026, that he will immediately appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court following a 2-1 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to halt construction of the proposed White House ballroom.

The appeals court upheld a lower court's ruling to pause above-ground construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom project, which replaces the demolished East Wing. The court stated in its 136-page decision that the authority to build such a "massive ballroom" rests with Congress, not the executive branch.

Trump condemned the ruling on his Truth Social platform, describing it as "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful." He argued that the court's decision on the issue of legal standing was "totally wrong" and claimed it "severely jeopardizes the lives and welfare of the people who work, and will be working, at the White House — including all future Presidents of the United States, and their families, as well as the lives of all those visiting, such as Heads of State and other Dignitaries, and all Americans who wish to visit the historic, beautiful Executive Mansion."

He further accused the court of ignoring that the ballroom, which he said is being built ahead of schedule and under budget, "is a Gift from President Trump and Great Patriots of the United States of America."

Trump described the project as a secure venue for formal events, capable of accommodating up to 2,000 guests, and emphasized its importance for the safety of current and future leaders.

The White House Ballroom project has drawn attention for its scale and funding, with Trump noting it is privately funded by patriots. The project also includes a new helipad and drone base, which Trump warned should not be sacrificed due to the court's ruling.

In a statement, the White House noted that no prior president has unilaterally demolished substantial portions of the White House using privately collected funds without Congressional authorization, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the project.

Sources