Key facts
- President Trump announced progress on the White House ballroom project via Truth Social.
- He claimed the construction is 'under budget' and 'ahead of schedule'.
- Trump asserted that private donors, not taxpayers, are funding the entire $600 million project.
- Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary stay on a lower court's order to halt above-ground construction.
- The stay allows construction to resume while the Supreme Court considers the administration's emergency appeal.
President Trump announced on Saturday morning that the construction of a new ballroom at the White House is progressing well, stating it is 'under budget' and 'ahead of schedule'. This statement followed a temporary permit granted by the Supreme Court on Friday, allowing construction to continue while the court considers an emergency appeal.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared a photo of the construction site, calling the project 'magnificent' and emphasizing that it would be funded entirely by 'Great American Patriots and Companies,' with 'ZERO Dollars of Taxpayer Money.' He previously stated private donors would cover the $400 million cost, a figure that later rose to $600 million. However, records from March 2025 indicated that only $293 million was planned to come from private donations, with the remainder potentially sourced from taxpayer-funded agency budgets, including the U.S. Secret Service and the White House Military Office.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts's order on Friday does not represent a final ruling but provides additional time for the court to review the administration's appeal. Attorney General Todd Blanche expressed gratitude for the stay, telling Fox News that the ballroom and military installation have been needed for decades and that President Trump has delivered on this project. He indicated that the legal process would continue but expressed appreciation for the ability to keep building.