The U.S. Supreme Court has permitted the construction of a large ballroom at the White House to continue after a lower court had ordered its suspension, marking a victory for Donald Trump.
On Monday, 31 Aug 2026 GMT+7, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to allow the $400 million ballroom construction at the White House to "proceed," representing a win for President Donald Trump, who pushed the project.
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court justices approved an emergency request from the Trump team, suspending the lower court's order that had blocked the above-ground portion of the project.
However, conservative Chief Justice John Roberts dissented along with the three liberal justices, writing that "this construction is likely unlawful" since Congress has not approved the project.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) filed the lawsuit, arguing that the President lacks sole authority to unilaterally order the construction.
Trump ordered the demolition of the historic East Wing of the White House last fall to begin building the ballroom. The White House stated the project would be "mostly" complete by November and fully finished by August 2028.
Last Friday, the Supreme Court temporarily allowed the 90,000-square-foot ballroom construction to continue while reviewing the lawsuit seeking a full halt. On Monday, the Court cleared the way, stating the lower court likely "overstepped" its authority in suspending the project.
Although the majority did not decide on the project's legality, they said NTHP lacked standing to sue the government and that Trump's team demonstrated they would likely win their argument that irreparable harm would occur without a temporary injunction.
Trump has long insisted the White House needs more event space and recently emphasized its importance for his personal security after an alleged assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last April.
However, NTHP contends that the construction is causing irreversible damage to historic landmarks.
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Source:bbc