Trump Says White House Ballroom To Move Forward Under National Security Designation

On Friday, Trump called opponents to the ballroom “TREASONISTS” and argued, again, that it was, in addition to an entertainment venue, a national security imperative.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump alleged that the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the organization that filed the lawsuit, had been provided with detailed plans and specifications for the project that disclosed what he described as “top secret military features.”

Trump argued that the litigation had exposed sensitive aspects of the proposed building’s design.

The comments came shortly after the administration asked the Supreme Court to block a lower court ruling and allow construction of the ballroom to move forward without congressional approval.

White House officials and Justice Department attorneys have defended the $400 million East Wing ballroom project, describing it as a critical component of a broader security complex intended to protect the president, White House staff and visiting foreign leaders from threats that could include drones, ballistic missiles and biological hazards.

Trump said the NTHP Preservation is “trying to stop [something] that is vital to our National Security, and the Safety of all Presidents of the United States, both current and future, their families, staff, and Cabinet members.”

He added, “They were asked by the United States Military not to bring this suit because of the Top Secret nature of the important facility being built.

“They were shown detailed plans and specifications of this knitted, unified, and cohesive structure by Top Officers and Leaders in both the Military and Secret Service,” he wrote.

In its filing Friday, the Trump administration said the alleged “threat of a missile attack against Air Force One on July 8” supports its security argument.

That was in reference to a reported Iranian missile threat to Air Force One that prompted the president to take the Secret Service’s recommendation and secretly switch planes while leaving Turkey.