Trump vows to fix ‘filthy’ reflecting pool, calls White House ballroom lawsuits unfair

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Tuesday, March 31, sharply criticized a lawsuit challenging the construction of a new White House ballroom and related projects, after a federal judge ordered the work to be halted.

The ruling mandates a pause until congressional approval is obtained, intensifying tensions between the administration and preservation groups. Trump signaled his intention to appeal the decision, maintaining that the project does not require taxpayer funding.

Trump defends White House ballroom and attacks National Trust for Historic Preservation

Trump, speaking in the Oval Office during an executive order signing, said he would appeal the ruling and rejected the judge’s assertion that congressional approval was necessary. He argued that many additions to the White House had been completed without such approval, particularly when not funded by taxpayers.

He said, “Many things have been built in the White House. They haven’t gotten congressional approval, especially when the money is being not put up by the taxpayer — the taxpayers not putting up a dime.”

Earlier in the day, Trump took to Truth Social to criticize the lawsuits brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He described the ballroom and the Trump Kennedy Center project as under budget, ahead of schedule, and among the most magnificent buildings of their kind. He also questioned why the group targeted his projects while, in his view, other national issues remained unaddressed.

“So, the White House Ballroom, and The Trump Kennedy Center… gets sued by a group that was cut off by Government years ago… Doesn’t make much sense, does it?” Trump wrote.

Trump further accused the organization of bias, calling it a “Radical Left Group of Lunatics” and claiming its funding had been stopped by Congress in 2005. He contrasted the lawsuits against his projects with what he described as neglect of renovations at the Federal Reserve, which he criticized alongside Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Judge Richard Leon halts White House ballroom, cites congressional oversight

Trump also addressed the renovation of the Trump Kennedy Center, describing it as a necessary effort to repair and improve a poorly maintained but potentially significant building. Additionally, Trump announced that he and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum were working to clean and restore the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

District Judge Richard Leon ruled in favor of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s request for a preliminary injunction, ordering the administration to halt construction of the ballroom. However, he suspended enforcement of the order for 14 days, noting that the case raises “novel and weighty issues” and that stopping an ongoing construction project could create logistical complications.

Leon clarified that any work related to the safety and security of the White House would be exempt from the injunction.

The decision is rooted in concerns that the Trump administration bypassed Congress in undertaking construction on a federally owned property. In his ruling, Leon wrote that while the president serves as a steward of the White House for future generations, he is not its owner.

The ballroom project, which began last fall with the demolition of the East Wing, is planned to span 90,000 square feet and accommodate nearly 1,000 guests. According to Trump, the construction is being financed entirely by private donors.