Judge questions Trump aides' 'brazen' claims on White House ballroom

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

Judge questions Trump aides’ ‘brazen’ claims on White House ballroom

The planned $400 million project has been a top priority for the president. Judge Richard J. Leon said he hopes to rule this month on whether to halt construction.

Updated
March 17, 2026 at 6:34 p.m. EDT


As seen from the Washington Monument, construction of the White House ballroom continues last Tuesday. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

By Dan Diamond and Jonathan Edwards

A federal judge on Tuesday grilled Trump administration lawyers on the legal justification for the president’s $400 million White House ballroom plan, accusing the Justice Department of “shifting” arguments as historic preservationists urged him to halt the controversial project.

{snip}

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/17/trump-ballroom-judge-hearing/

[spooky3]

1. If anyone needs a gift link, here it is:

https://wapo.st/4dnvfRW

[mahina]

7. Thank you so very much

That was really kind and I deeply appreciate it. I canceled my subscription a few months ago.

[intheflow]

9. Came up as blocked for me.

I was able to read the article via other means, but this link didn't gift me access.

[UpInArms]

2. The picture posted is just such a perfect example of

everything that this pos does …

Take something lovely and good and destroy it

[Skittles]

8. I don't understand why he was EVER allowed to do that

it's not HIS fucking house

[HighFired49]

3. This shouldn't be difficult!

How difficult is it to stop or repair this mess? Trump doesn't own the property, so he has no right to build anything on it. What would happen if he decided to build himself a summer home on the front lawn after he leaves office, for example? Just because he's Pres. doesn't mean he has the right to build on property that he doesn't own! If he does, maybe I should go to DC and maybe build a nightclub at the end of the West Wing. Seems that I would have the same right as he does, no matter who pays for it. Makes no sense. He should be sued for the cost to restore the mess he's made to the exact specifications as the building that was there. That would be a good way to put the money that he got from "friends" to use in fixing his stupid fiasco.

[calimary]

6. This!

I don’t want to hear about ANY “plans” that Trump presumably (or allegedly) has up his sleeve. I don’t care WHAT he wants.

He SHOULD face a lawsuit - or better yet, MORE lawsuitS - to pry the recovery and restoration money out of his accounts. I don’t give a damn what he wants OR claims that he needs OR deserves.

[Bayard]

11. There's the rub,

If the lawsuits are successful, he will charge the demolition and restoration to taxpayers. As he's said before, he doesn't pay for anything.

[calimary]

12. Oh, he'll be paying. Satan's gonna get donald's 250 pounds of flesh.

We just won’t see it. But the donald will have to face consequences for living the life he’s led, all the lies he’s told, all the wives and girlfriends he’s cheated on, all the business people he’s stepped on or screwed, while on his way to the top.

I’d guess no one should expect to see him upon reaching The Great Upstairs.

[pat_k]

4. "The judge added that Trump was a 'steward' of the White House, not its owner."

Leon repeatedly questioned the administration’s insistence that the president does not need congressional approval for the project. The White House has countered that Congress set aside several million dollars for alteration and maintenance of the president’s residence — a characterization that Leon said was “brazen,” given the scope of the planned 90,000-square-foot project.

The judge also grew frustrated after a Justice Department lawyer defended the project — which involved demolishing the White House’s East Wing last year — by citing past projects at national parks, with Leon saying there was no comparison.

The White House “is a special place,” he said. “This is an iconic symbol of this nation.” The judge added that Trump was a “steward” of the White House, not its owner.

[Blue_Roses]

5. Perfect

"The judge added that Trump was a “steward” of the White House, not its owner."

This needs to be said over and over and over...

[sellitman]

10. Dump should be required to re-build The East Wing out of pocket.

Or through his supporters.

Fine the MFer every day it sits an empty site.