On August 7, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit panel ruled 2-1 the underground construction of Trump's White House ballroom must stop. The Court ruled that Congress retains control over funding for development at the White House, and that Congress has not authorized Trump's project.

The same day, Trump said he would appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, posting the following on Truth Social:

Two Obama and Biden Appellate Court Judges just voted against the desperately needed Military Center, required for the National Security of Washington, D.C., and our Country, itself. Highly Respected Judge, Neomi Rao, stated the following key points, among others, in a strongly worded dissent:

"This was a blatant abuse of discretion…To begin with, the district court had no jurisdiction because the Trust has no standing to stop construction at the White House…[T]he balance of equities overwhelmingly favors the government. The district court elevated the aesthetic displeasure of a single passerby over the government's security interests in the ballroom and the security risks of leaving an open construction site at the President's home and office…These errors in equitable judgment require vacating the injunction…The district court seized supervision of construction at the White House, and my colleagues affirm this judicial overreach…Because the injunction is beyond the proper province of the federal courts, construction should be allowed to continue."

The decision has been stayed, and does not take effect for a period of time. We will be immediately appealing to the United States Supreme Court. The Military and Secret Service are viewing this horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling as a National Security threat to our Nation in that the entire Complex is being built for the protection of our Country and, additionally, all future Presidents. The single, integrated project includes Bomb Shelters, State of the Art Hospital and Medical Facilities, Protective Partitioning, Top Secret Military Facilities, Structures and Equipment, Protective Missile Resistant Steel, Columns, Roofs, and Beams, Drone Proof Ceilings and Roofs, Military Grade Venting, and Bullet, Ballistic, and Blast Proof Glass. It is all tied together as one big, expensive, and very complex unit, which is vital for National Security and Military Operations of the United States of America! The Circuit Court's decision, which is totally wrong on the vital subject of STANDING, of which the plaintiff has none, 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. The Circuit Court also refused to acknowledge that the desperately needed, and totally secure 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. The entire Complex, Military and all, is largely built, fabricated, and paid for. Much is already on site, or being delivered. Why didn't they bring this case long prior to construction starting? There will be no expense to the American Taxpayer. This unjust decision must be overturned by the Supreme Court in its entirety. Thank you for your attention to this deeply important National Security matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Sep 7, 2026 Update

Trump's DC makeover: What to know
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6072139-trump-dc-beautification-projects/

Aug 31, 2026 Update

Supreme Court allows construction on White House ballroom to continue | SCOTUSblog
https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/08/supreme-court-allows-construction-on-white-house-ballroom-to-continue/

Divided Supreme Court rules White House ballroom construction may proceed 
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6061878-trump-wins-ballroom-construction-lawsuit/

Aug 24, 2026 Update

Existing White House bunker undermines need for East Wing renovation, officials reportedly say
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6046804-white-house-bunker-trump-ballroom/

Aug 22, 2026 Update

Chief Justice Roberts briefly allows White House ballroom construction
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6043480-trump-white-house-ballroom-supreme-court/

Aug 18, 2026 Update

Preservationist group urges Supreme Court to keep White House ballroom paused
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6035436-national-trust-for-historic-preservation-supreme-court-donald-trump-white-house-ballroom-pause/

Aug 16, 2026 Update

Blanche: Congress has already approved White House ballroom project
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6033325-blanche-trump-white-house-ballroom-congress/

Aug 15, 2026 Update

DOJ: Iranian missile threat seen as assassination plot
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6031052-doj-refers-to-air-force-one-threat-as-assassination-attempt-in-ballroom-appeal/

Trump accuses National Trust for Historic Preservation of revealing 'top military secrets' in ballroom case
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6031322-trump-accuses-national-trust-revealing-info-ballroom/

Aug 14, 2026 Update

The Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and allow construction of the White House Ballroom to continue.

Read the appeal here.

In the appeal, Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote

This Project, like its predecessors, should be a matter for the President and the political process, not construction-by-injunction.

Forcing the President to come hat-in-hand to Congress so the People's House is safe gives the Legislature dangerous leverage.

At 7:16 pm, Trump posted the following on Truth Social:

These are the TREASONISTS that brought the suit against the Military Complex. They revealed Top Military Secrets!

"The National Trust for Historic Preservation" is a beautiful name, but even their name is fake because when they add the words "in the United States" to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, it makes it sound like a Governmental Agency, which it is not. In fact, the United States refused to continue funding it in 2005 because they strongly disagreed with their mission and objectives. They are very bad for our Country. They stop many projects that are worthy, and hurt many others. In this case, they are trying to stop one that is vital to our National Security, and the Safety of all Presidents of the United States, both current and future, their families, staff, and Cabinet members. They were asked by the United States Military not to bring this suit because of the Top Secret nature of the important facility being built. They were shown detailed plans and specifications of this knitted, unified, and cohesive structure by Top Officers and Leaders in both the Military and Secret Service. But this did not deter them because they suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome, commonly referred to as TDS, as noted by Democrat Senator John Fetterman, of Pennsylvania. The lower section does not work without the upper section and, likewise, the upper section does not work without the lower. It is all one highly integrated unit.

The then President of the National Trust, who brought the case, Carol Quillen, had no background in Historic Preservation, and has been replaced, unanimously, effective immediately. This is similar to her departure from Davidson College, where she was, likewise, dismissed, but the people of our Country are forced to live on with her bad decision, especially that of revealing to everyone, including our enemies throughout the World, the Top Secret Military features of the Building that are already built, and/or under construction, such as the DronePort, which occupies the entire roof.

There is absolutely no argument that a woman walking her dog in the vicinity of the White House has STANDING to stop such a desperately needed National Security structure for the people of the United States of America, as it will provide Presidents, current and future, a secure space to do their jobs, especially when she never saw the Building, because it had not risen, and she had no rendering, or pictures of the Building because they, also, were in the formative stages of production. This woman is not a "walker," she is an activist, or serial plaintiff, who is involved in much other frivolous litigation throughout the City. In fact, whenever the National Trust files a lawsuit, she seems to be involved. So, she walked at the site of the White House, where there was no Building, and it bothered her, but she also walks in front of all of those other places, where she must also be bothered, and hence, additional court cases? She has no Clearances, or expertise whatsoever, in National Security, Defense, or required protections for the President. She has absolutely no standing to be involved in this case and, in fact, her name is not even mentioned as a plaintiff in the case! It is this kind of gross and flagrant abuse of our Courts that is exactly why Americans are losing faith in our System of Justice. It is so bad for our Country! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Commentary:

Once again, a Trump administration sycophant makes contradictory statements. In the appeal, Sauer says the project should be a matter for the president "and the political process."

I couldn't agree more.

But the "political process" is, by definition, allowing Congress to review the planned construction before breaking ground, which Trump didn't do.

Statements like this show us all, once again, the gaslighting and double-speak of the Trump administration.

"Hat-in hand?"

"Dangerous leverage?"

Give me a break!

This is just more of the typical hyperbole and drama of the Trump administration.

No, Trump didn't have to come "hat-in-hand" to Congress. All he had to do, like all presidents before him, was to ask Congress to review his plans and for its approval.

No, asking Congress for approval isn't "dangerous leverage," it's just doing the right thing.