WASHINGTON — It’s a ballroom blitz.
President Trump unloaded on the National Trust for Historic Preservation for a “ridiculous lawsuit” looking to block further construction of a sprawling $300-$400 million White House ballroom.
“Making such a large gift to the U.S.A. was thought to be, by almost everyone, ‘A WONDERFUL THING TO DO,’” Trump seethed on Truth Social.
“But no, as usual, I got sued, this time by the Radical Left National (No!)Trust for Historic Preservation, a group that couldn’t care less about our Country!”
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which Congress has entrusted with preserving historic buildings, sued the Trump administration in December over the October demolition of the East Wing.
On Thursday, Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, sounded skeptical about the Trump administration’s legal justifications for the move.
Leon suggested the Trump administration was attempting an “end run” around Congress, as the judge raised concerns about whether construction of the ballroom would be allowed to proceed.
Trump has sought to build a White House ballroom for well over a decade, offering to pay for one during the Obama administration.
Since returning to the White House for his second term, the former real estate mogul has made several modifications to the building, paving over the grassy lawn in the Rose Garden, renovating the White House Palm Room, remodeling the Lincoln Bedroom bathroom, and launching a gold-themed redecoration of the Oval Office.
But the ballroom project has been the crown jewel of Trump’s White House renovation efforts.
The president has long crowed over his vaunted ballroom project, which he claims will include bulletproof windows, “anti-drone roofing,” and other advanced security measures. During the construction process, his team is believed to have moved to upgrade the White House’s nuclear bunker.
“There is no practical or reasonable way to go back. IT IS TOO LATE,” Trump further declared.
“The so-called ‘preservationists,’ who get their money from the most unusual of places, should not be allowed to stop this desperately needed addition to our GREAT White House, a place that a President has never needed permission to change or enhance,” he continued.
Trump also bemoaned how the lawsuit “unfortunately, exposed this heretofore Top Secret fact,” that the military and Secret Service have been involved in the construction efforts.
“We are fully committed to upholding the interests of the American public and advocating for compliance with all legally required review and approval processes—and an opportunity for the American people to weigh in on a project that impacts one of the most historically significant buildings in our country,” a National Trust spokesperson told The Post.
The Secret Service previously argued in court documents that the delayed construction of the ballroom poses national security threats.