US President Donald Trump was ordered on Friday, August 7th, 2026, to halt construction of a new ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which had sued Trump over the project last year.

The court ruled that "Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House" and cannot fundamentally reshape it without congressional approval. Judges Patricia Millett and Brad Garcia, both appointed by Democratic presidents, clarified that the order does not permanently bar construction but halts above-ground work during the lawsuit until Congress grants approval.

Trump criticized the ruling as a "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling," and confirmed that his team will be "immediately appealing" the decision to the US Supreme Court. He also stated on social media that the ballroom, which is being built ahead of schedule and under budget, is a "Gift from President Trump and Great Patriots of the United States of America."

Work on the 90,000-square-foot (8,360-square-meter) ballroom began last year with the swift demolition of the White House's entire historic East Wing. The court's ruling has been placed on hold for 14 days to allow the Trump administration to file its appeal.

The court emphasized that whether a massive ballroom should be constructed is a decision for Congress, not for unilateral executive action.

Sources