On Friday, August 7th, 2026, President Donald Trump announced 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 the White House ballroom project.

The appeals court upheld a lower court's order pausing above-ground construction of the proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which replaces the demolished East Wing. The court ruled that the authority to approve such a "massive ballroom" rests 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 being built ahead of schedule and under budget, describing it as a "Gift from President Trump and Great Patriots of the United States of America."

The White House Ballroom project, valued at approximately $400 million, is designed to provide a secure venue for formal events with space for up to 2,000 guests. Trump emphasized its importance for the safety of leaders for generations to come.

The White House noted that no previous president has unilaterally demolished substantial portions of the White House using privately collected funds, as Trump has done with this project.

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

Sources