It might be too soon to strike up the band just yet, but President Trump scored a temporary win from the Supreme Court on Friday afternoon as the High Court waltzed into the ongoing battle over the ballroom being constructed in place of the old East Wing of the White House.
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday at least for now allowed President Donald Trump to continue constructing a new ballroom adjoining the White House.
Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary stay that blocks lower court rulings that would have put the above-ground portion of the project on hold.
The Chief Justice's brief order reads:
Upon consideration of the application of counsel for the applicants, the response, and the reply filed thereto, it is ordered that the preliminary injunction entered on April 16, 2026, by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, case No. 1:25-cv-4316, is hereby stayed pending further order of The Chief Justice or of the Court.
As indicated, this is merely an administrative — or temporary — stay of the lower court's injunction while the justices consider the administration's request for a stay pending appeal — i.e., an order that would formally pause the injunction issued by D.C. District Court Judge Richard Leon.
As readers may recall, President Trump announced plans in July 2025 to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom in place of the East Wing. The ballroom was to be funded by private donations rather than taxpayer dollars. The new ballroom was intended to better accommodate large White House functions and to provide added security features.
But the National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to block the move — after demolition had already begun. D.C. District Judge Richard Leon issued a preliminary injunction blocking part of the project — his order halted above-ground construction while allowing work necessary for White House security to continue.
But the practical effect of the Friday order is that construction on the ballroom may proceed.
And the structure is already well on its way to completion.
In court filings, the administration has said that as of Aug. 14, construction was 65% complete on the $400 million, privately funded project, with a 250-person crew working 20 hours a day, seven days a week.
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