President Donald Trump on Saturday demanded that the federal judge overseeing the White House ballroom dispute step aside, saying the judge is “putting our Country in danger” — one day after a federal appeals court heard arguments on the case.
Trump made the remark in a post on Truth Social, writing: “Judge Leon has to get out of the way, and FAST. He is putting our Country in danger!”
He did not describe how U.S. District Judge Richard Leon’s involvement endangered the country.
Trump has described the project as a security upgrade for Washington, including a proposed White House “drone port.” The appeals court has not issued a final ruling.
On June 5, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard oral arguments on whether to uphold the lower court’s decision blocking above-ground construction of the White House ballroom. The three-judge panel did not issue a ruling from the bench.
National Trust for Historic Preservation President and CEO Carol Quillen said after the hearing: “The White House is the most iconic historic site in our nation. Today we again stood up for the American people, the democratic process, and the rule of law. We stand firm that only Congress has the authority to authorize demolition and construction at this beloved place. We will await a ruling from the Court and remain confident in the merits of our case.”
On March 31, Judge Leon issued a preliminary injunction, halting construction after finding the administration began the project without congressional authorization.
In an April 16 memorandum opinion, he clarified and amended his order, limiting the injunction to above-ground construction only.
The amended order allows below-ground construction of national security facilities — including underground bunkers, bomb shelters, and related security installations — to continue. It also allows temporary presidential security measures and work to protect the White House’s structural integrity, including waterproofing and management of water infiltration risks.
Leon rejected the Trump administration’s argument that the entire ballroom project qualified as a national security necessity. “National security is not a blank check to proceed with otherwise unlawful activity,” he wrote.
Leon noted the administration had previously told the court that above-ground and below-ground portions of the project were “independent of” one another — a position he said directly contradicted its later claim that the project was an inseparable whole.
The Trump administration filed an appeal and an emergency motion to stay. On April 11, the D.C. Circuit remanded the case to Leon with instructions to clarify the scope of the injunction’s safety-and-security exception, and extended a temporary stay through April 17, 2026. Leon then extended the stay by seven days from the date of his April 16 opinion.
Background
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed suit Dec. 12, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging the White House ballroom construction was unlawful. The group asked the court to halt further work until the government completed required reviews, including a public comment period.
The lawsuit alleged construction had begun without required plans being submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission under the National Capital Planning Act, without an adequate environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, and without the congressional authorization the law requires for construction in federal parks in the District of Columbia.
Trump has described the project as a security upgrade for Washington, including a proposed White House “drone port.” The appeals court has not issued a final ruling.
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