President Trump called opponents of his proposed White House ballroom "disloyal," defending the project as ahead of schedule and under budget. The ballroom, located on the former East Wing footprint, is at the center of litigation that also highlights plans for an underground military facility and a possible drone port. An appeals court ordered ballroom construction paused by Aug. 21 unless Congress approves; the administration asked the Supreme Court to intervene. The U.S. Solicitor General said the overall project is roughly 65% complete.
Trump Calls Critics Of White House Ballroom 'Disloyal' As Court Orders Work Paused
President Trump shared an AI-generated video of himself showing former President George Washington around the ballroom (@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social)
President Donald Trump on Monday accused opponents of his planned White House ballroom of being "disloyal" to the United States, brushing aside criticism of the controversial project as he defended its progress and purpose.
Ballroom Project And Legal Battle
The ballroom is being built on the former footprint of the East Wing and sits at the center of a court fight over whether construction may proceed. Judges and activists have also raised concerns about plans to construct a substantial subterranean military facility beneath the site, and even proposals for a drone port associated with the complex.
"The people that are opposing the ballroom are people that, in my opinion, are very disloyal to our country," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "We're way ahead of schedule. We're under budget. It's going to be the most beautiful ballroom of its kind."
Military Use And AI Video
Trump has repeatedly promoted the project and shared an AI-generated video that depicts him giving a tour of the complex to a fictionalized George Washington. In comments to reporters, the president said military officials approached him about using deep underground space beneath the White House grounds for a military facility, turning what he described as a simple ballroom project into a broader security installation.
Trump told reporters that the military approached him about building a facility under the ballroom (Reuters)
"When I said that I was going to build a ballroom, the military asked if they could see me," he said, quoting officials who suggested, "Sir, we have an opportunity to go down deep into the ground and build a military facility to go with the White House and to go with all of Washington D.C."
Court Orders And Appeals
An appeals court ordered that construction of the ballroom itself be halted by Aug. 21 unless Congress explicitly authorizes the project, though the ruling still allows work on the underground military component to continue for now. On Friday, administration lawyers asked the U.S. Supreme Court to permit ballroom construction to resume while litigation continues.
In a filing supporting the appeal, U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote that "Today, the Project is 65% complete in its entirety, and moving quickly toward total completion."
White House Repairs
Trump also framed the undertaking as part of broader restoration work at the presidential residence, saying the White House had been neglected and needed repairs. "We're fixing the White House that hasn't been taken care of," he said, adding that exteriors and columns had been deteriorating.
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