Trump boasts White House is now a ‘palace’ as he shows off new helipad
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Monday, September 14, described the White House as a "palace" while showing off a newly completed helipad on the South Lawn, the latest in a string of renovations he has carried out since returning to power.
Trump showed a picture of the black-and-white granite "heliport landing zone," which he called a "work of art."
Trump showed off the project's progress last month, signing his name on one of the granite slabs that would make up the helipad, which is designed to resemble the presidential seal.
Trump expands White House renovations with costly helipad
“It is an Honor, ‘in my spare time,’ to bring back the Beauty and Magnificence of the White House, to levels it has never seen before, not even after its construction in 1792. Like our Nation, under the Dumocrats, was in decline, the White House was a badly maintained ‘dump.’ Now, it is a Palace!” the president wrote on Truth Social.
In an effort to put his mark on Washington, Trump has worked on renovating both the interior and exterior of the White House, along with other construction projects around the DC area, such as the restoration of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch.
This is the first picture taken of the new Heliport Landing Zone on the South Lawn of the White House! It is magnificently made of carved granite in shades of Black and White. It is truly a work of art and, even the Trump Haters are saying, “Wow, that’s really good!” It was… pic.twitter.com/WpELL4eGvV
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) September 14, 2026
Trump also noted improvements to the path leading up to the White House entrance, writing that the old, pitted asphalt had been replaced by "Highest Grade, 4 and 5 inch thick, White Granite," which he said would prevent future cracking or damage.
Trump has said the helipad project is being underwritten by Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of Lockheed Martin, at a cost of roughly $5 million to $6 million.
He said the company offered to reimburse the government after apologizing for not having warned the administration about the power generated by the new Marine One helicopter fleet it completed in 2024.
A Lockheed Martin spokeswoman previously told ABC News that the company's contribution was given to the National Park Service and that its work with the administration is in line with ethical and compliance policies.
EPIC: President Trump took Marine One over the White House complex today — the newly finished granite helipad with the presidential seal in full view on the South Lawn and the massive ballroom rising at a rapid pace.…
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) September 9, 2026
“As part of the Project, the poorly conditioned asphalt at the Main Entrance was replaced with Highest Grade, 4 and 5 inch thick, White Granite!” the president wrote on Truth Social. “There will be no cracks, or defacement, EVER!”
Trump’s White House renovations face growing criticism
Trump called the new helipad “expensive” but said it was a “gift to America.”
Trump's renovation efforts are under attack, as his opponents argue that his monarchic approach to the White House is part of a larger trend. "No Kings" protesters have been popping up around the country for over a year, citing his harsh immigration policies and skyrocketing prices as issues.
A Trump restoration of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, completed in June, was found to have algae and paint damage, which the president accused vandals of causing.
However, the Justice Department dropped the charges against four people after it was found to be the fault of construction workers.
