Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow White House Ballroom Construction
FlatRigor 5412 sources
The Story
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Friday to intervene and allow construction of a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House. This request followed a federal appeals court ruling that temporarily paused construction. Chief Justice John Roberts has asked the National Trust for Historic Preservation to respond by Tuesday. President Donald Trump issued a lengthy Truth Social post late Friday night, calling the National Trust for Historic Preservation "TREASONISTS." He accused the group of revealing "Top Military Secrets" by suing to stop the ballroom's construction. Trump stated the project 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. The administration has increasingly characterized the ballroom as part of an integrated national security complex. U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer opposed the appeals court's ruling, citing an alleged safety threat to the president and arguing that stopping construction would interfere with security improvements. The project is already 65% complete. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit in December to stop the construction, which began after the president ordered the East Wing of the White House demolished. An appellate court upheld an injunction the group had earlier won, ordering a work stoppage. The appeals court ruled that the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to make substantial changes to the White House. District Judge Richard Leon previously determined that Trump is the steward of the White House, not the owner! Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine called the ballroom a valid military requirement necessary to protect the president and provide command-and-control capabilities. The ballroom's cost has soared to $450 million, with some estimates suggesting it could be even higher. The Justice Department described an Iranian missile threat incident that led President Trump to secretly switch planes last month as an assassination attempt in a court filing. The Supreme Court's decision on whether to allow construction to continue is pending.
The Spread
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What they agree on
- The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow construction of a White House ballroom to continue.
- President Donald Trump called the National Trust for Historic Preservation "TREASONISTS" for suing to stop the project.
- A federal appeals court previously ruled that Congress, not the president, has the power to make substantial changes to the White House, halting construction.
- The administration argues the ballroom is vital for national security and the safety of the president and his staff.
- The ballroom project is estimated to cost at least $400 million and is reportedly 65% complete.
Where they split
- The Independent and The Daily Beast highlight President Trump's use of the term "TREASONISTS" in their headlines, emphasizing his strong rhetoric, while The Washington Post and The Japan News use more neutral language like "Trump officials ask" or "Trump asks."
- Salon and The Daily Beast specify the ballroom as a "90,000-square-foot" project, while other articles like The Independent and The Hill do not include these exact dimensions.
- The Hill (article 14) includes a detail about the Justice Department referring to an Iranian missile threat as an "assassination attempt" in a court filing, a specific argument for national security not detailed in all other reports.
- The Washington Post (article 11) mentions Trump's desire to put "golden seals on White House ballroom," a specific design detail not present in other reports.