Trump’s controversial ballroom finally gets Supreme Court nod after lower court setback
WASHINGTON, DC: After a series of court filings and setbacks, the US Supreme Court has finally allowed President Donald Trump to carry on his aspirational ballroom project.
Donald Trump’s ballroom project is a controversial $400 million, 90,000-square-foot state ballroom being constructed on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House.
Trump can temporarily move forward with ballroom construction
In a major win for Trump, the Supreme Court on Friday, August 21, allowed the President to continue working on a massive new ballroom at the White House, temporarily halting a judicial order that would have required construction to stop at midnight today.
While two other courts, the U.S. District Court and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, have earlier said that Trump is pursuing the ballroom project unlawfully because Congress has not approved it, the Supreme Court did not comment on the legitimacy of the construction work.
Friday afternoon’s order was meant to give the justices additional time to consider Trump’s request to pause the adverse rulings indefinitely.
Notably, today’s order did not set a new deadline, meaning the construction can continue without any hindrance until the Supreme Court issues another verdict.
The case was heard by Chief Justice John Roberts, who handles emergency cases rising from the DC Circuit Court of Appeals.
Ballroom project continues at full speed
Ballroom construction has been progressing rapidly, with a 250-person crew working 20-hour days, 7 days per week, according to a filing submitted by the Trump administration to the Supreme Court.
The government put the ballroom complex at “65% complete in its entirety.”
President Donald Trump is reportedly seeking to provide a makeover to various parts of Washington to suit his personal tastes. The ballroom project has been the most substantial part of that effort.
“This will be the greatest military complex slash ballroom anywhere in the world. There won’t be anything like it,” Trump said in August as he discussed the project.
The president views the ballroom and other construction projects as the foundation of his legacy, according to sources familiar with his thinking. He recently suggested that those who oppose the effort are “very disloyal to our country.”
