"President Is Not the Owner, Just a Tenant"... US Court Blocks $400 Million 'Ambitious Project'

Plan to Build 8,270-square-meter Annex After Demolition of Existing East Wing

Both District and Appeals Courts Rule, "No Executive Authority for the Project"

The plan to build a large banquet hall at the White House, which U.S. President Donald Trump has been pursuing, has once again been blocked by a court ruling.

According to Yonhap News, on August 7 (local time), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 in favor of the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), a nonprofit organization, seeking to halt construction of the White House banquet hall. However, the court suspended the effect of the ruling for 14 days to allow the Trump Administration to file an appeal with the Supreme Court.

The core issue in the court's judgment was whether the executive branch has the authority to make large-scale renovations or expansions to the White House. Judges Patricia Millett and Bradley Garcia stated, "Every president is not the owner but merely a tenant of the White House and the presidential residence," and clarified, "Whether or not to construct a large-scale banquet hall is a matter for Congress to decide, not something the executive branch should handle on its own." Judge Millett was appointed by former President Barack Obama, and Judge Garcia by President Joe Biden.

In contrast, Judge Neomi Rao, who was appointed by President Trump, delivered a dissenting opinion. Judge Rao argued that the NTHP did not have standing to bring the lawsuit and described the lower court's ruling as a judicial overreach.

U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, in April, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia also determined that congressional approval is required for construction of the banquet hall. At that time, the court viewed the Trump Administration's project as fundamentally different from the routine minor renovations carried out by previous presidents at the White House.

Since starting his second term last year, President Trump has been pushing a series of White House renovation projects. Central to these efforts is a project to demolish the existing East Wing and build an annex—including a large banquet hall—in its place. The project is estimated to cost around 400 million dollars, with a target completion date of summer 2028.

The planned building is approximately 8,270 square meters in size, making it larger than the main White House building, which is about 5,110 square meters. The Trump Administration has argued that a large facility is needed to host foreign leaders and distinguished guests. Plans reportedly include installing military and security facilities underground, as well as drone launch pads on the roof.

President Trump has stated that construction of the banquet hall is being financed through private donations. He has also taken a keen interest in the materials to be used for the construction, demonstrating direct involvement in the project. For example, while on vacation last January, he visited a company in Italy specializing in marble to personally inspect stones for use in the banquet hall.

President Trump strongly objected to the court's ruling. Through social media, he criticized, "Two judges appointed by Obama and Biden have opposed a military center that is urgently needed for the security of Washington, D.C. and our country."

He also called the decision "an illegal ruling driven by political motives" and announced he would immediately appeal to the Supreme Court.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.