President Donald Trump announced on Friday, August 7, 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 on his proposed White House ballroom.

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

In a post on Truth Social, Trump condemned the ruling as "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful." He argued the decision "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."

Trump also accused the court of ignoring that the ballroom is "a Gift from President Trump and Great Patriots of the United States of America," emphasizing that it is being built ahead of schedule and under budget. He described the project as a secure venue capable of hosting up to 2,000 guests, funded by private patriots, intended to ensure the safety of leaders for generations.

The White House noted that there is no precedent in American history for a president unilaterally demolishing substantial portions of the White House using privately collected funds, as Trump has done with this project.

The dispute highlights tensions over executive authority and congressional oversight regarding modifications to the Executive Mansion.

Sources