Law & Justice
Trump says he will take ballroom halt to Supreme Court
President Donald Trump said Friday he would ask the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that upheld an order halting most above-ground construction on his White House ballroom, calling the ruling “horrendous.”
A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ruled 2-1 to uphold a district court order requiring above-ground construction to stop because Congress had not approved the project. The appeals court delayed enforcement of its decision for two weeks, giving Trump time to ask the Supreme Court to intervene.
The court allowed work to continue below ground, where a military bunker is planned. It had temporarily allowed construction to continue while it considered the case.
The majority said the ruling did not decide whether the proposed ballroom was desirable or whether it could ultimately be built. It said construction could not proceed during the district court litigation without congressional authorization.
Trump ordered construction of the ballroom after repeatedly saying the White House lacked enough space for large events such as state dinners. Work began last year with the demolition of the White House's historic East Wing.
Update
President Donald Trump said he would challenge the ballroom ruling in the Supreme Court.
Trump called the ruling “horrendous.”
Source note: AFP news report published on 7 August 2026 at 16:58:59 UTC.
Update
The appeals court ruling was issued by a three-judge panel in a 2-1 decision.
The panel allowed work to continue below ground, where a military bunker is planned.
The court said the ruling did not decide whether the ballroom was desirable or whether it could ultimately be built.
The item adds that construction began last year after demolition of the White House's historic East Wing.
Source note: AFP news report published on 7 August 2026 at 16:13:24 UTC.
Update
A three-judge DC Circuit panel ruled 2-1 to uphold the earlier order.
Enforcement of the construction halt was delayed for two weeks to allow a possible Supreme Court appeal.
The earlier order demanded a halt to most above-ground construction at the White House site.
Source note: AFP news report published on 7 August 2026 at 15:27:01 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The Supreme Court had not been reported to have acted on Trump's planned challenge.
Source
AFP news report published on .