President Trump led reporters on a tour of White House construction projects on Wednesday, showcasing a granite helipad and the ongoing $400 million ballroom project on the South Lawn, according to the Los Angeles Times. Trump spent several uninterrupted minutes detailing the helipad’s granite construction, autographing one of the stones marked with an eagle seal that will be laid into the final presidential seal, and explaining the material’s durability to assembled press.
The helipad’s granite can withstand 35,000 pounds per square inch of pressure, Trump said, comparing it favorably to asphalt and concrete. “That’s stone that, if you took a hammer and you started hammering right now — all day long — you wouldn’t see a mark on it, literally, that’s the kind of power it is,” he told reporters, according to the LA Times. He also revealed for the first time that he had replaced the walkway from the White House’s diplomatic entrance and a portion of the South Lawn driveway with white granite.
Trump has declared that building is his primary passion. “One thing I know how to do is build,” he said, asserting that asphalt is “not appropriate for a great house, or a great place like the White House.” He emphasized that the projects will endure far beyond his time in office, stating “This will be here long after we’re gone.”
The 90,000-square-foot ballroom, designed to seat 1,000 guests, is part of Trump’s broader Washington construction agenda. Trump has insisted the ballroom will add security to the White House and include anti-drone technology, bomb shelters, and medical facilities, calling it “the greatest military complex slash ballroom anywhere in the world,” according to the LA Times. He even unsuccessfully sought $1 billion in congressional funding for military improvements to the structure, Reuters reported.
Trump also praised Scotts-Miracle Gro, whose former CEO is a Trump supporter, for donating $1 million to repair the White House lawn after it was damaged by his UFC fight marking his 80th birthday in June and by the helipad construction. The president joked with construction workers and suggested leaving the signed granite stone upside-down so his signature would be visible to future generations.
Legal obstacles continue despite construction momentum
The ballroom and helipad projects face significant legal hurdles. A federal appeals court ruled on August 7 that Trump must halt above-ground construction because he launched the project without congressional approval, according to Reuters. Trump has since appealed that ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the justices to allow work to continue while the underlying case proceeds. Preservation groups and opponents argue Trump exceeded his authority when he demolished the historic East Wing, which housed the first lady’s offices and the White House movie theater.
Trump has scoffed at court orders seeking to block construction, telling reporters on Wednesday that work is continuing regardless and predicting the Supreme Court will eventually side with him. His sweeping Washington construction agenda also includes a 250-foot arch and a recast Kennedy Center, according to Reuters. The broader Trump White House modernization effort involves multiple projects reshaping the capital, from the Rose Garden to the Reflecting Pool near the Lincoln Memorial.
Sources
- Los Angeles Times — Trump’s August 19 White House tour, granite helipad details, ballroom specifications, and Trump’s statements about construction and durability
- Reuters — Trump’s sweeping Washington makeover plans, ballroom details, appeals court ruling, legal challenges, and comprehensive project overview
