A federal judge halted construction on President Trump’s massive $400 million ballroom with gilded gold columns at the White House.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington, DC, granted a preservationist group’s request to halt construction on the ballroom until the blueprint plans are reviewed and congressional approval is obtained.
After Trump’s historic reelection in 2024, he announced plans to build a 90,000sq ft ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing.
However, the judge said Trump will need congressional approval to move forward with construction.
?NEW: Federal Judge Richard Leon has blocked the construction of Donald Trump's White House ballroom, saying "The President is the steward of the White House for future generations…he is not the owner!"
RETWEET to thank Judge Leon for standing up for our democracy! pic.twitter.com/JFsn4dtGEM
— Protect Kamala Harris ? (@DisavowTrump20) March 31, 2026
During a news conference in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said he doesn’t need congressional approval because the project is being financed privately. No taxpayer dollars will be spent.
“We’ll appeal that… basically, he’s saying I need congressional approval, and he’s so wrong. This is being financed privately,” Trump told reporters.
He added: “It’s a donation that’s being given by companies, very rich companies, very rich people. So that for 150 years they’ve wanted a ballroom. Here, we’re going to have the finest ballroom, I believe, anywhere in the world.”
Trump recently revealed the U.S. military is building a “massive complex” under the privately-funded White House ballroom, and that construction is “ahead of schedule.”
The judge halted construction on the ballroom and the mysterious complex under the ballroom as well.
?BREAKING: A rogue judge has BLOCKED President Trump from continuing the construction of his $400 million White House ballroom.
Are you kidding me?
It's literally PRIVATELY funded. pic.twitter.com/QaKIKXLIeB
— Jack (@jackunheard) March 31, 2026
In other Trump news: a prankster installed a marble statue featuring a golden gilded toilet, titled “Throne Fit For A King,” on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
The statue, installed during the “No Kings” protests, is intended to mock Trump’s fondness for solid gold bathroom fixtures in all of his homes.
“A Throne Fit For a King” Pranksters mock Trump by installing giant gold and marble toilet monument near the Lincoln Memorial. pic.twitter.com/GCPEuvYmqY
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) March 31, 2026
