Supreme Court clears way for Trump to keep building White House ballroom - BBC News

But Chief Justice John Roberts dissents, writing that "construction is likely unlawful".

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Construction continues on a new helipad on the South Lawn of the White House and the East Wing ballroom on 24 August 2026 in Washington DC.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that construction of a $400m (£297m) ballroom at the White House can go ahead, in a victory for President Donald Trump.

In a 5-4 ruling, the justices granted the Trump administration's emergency request, blocking lower court rulings that would have halted construction of an above-ground portion of the project.

But Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative, sided with the three liberal justices to dissent, writing that "construction is likely unlawful" because Congress has not approved the project.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the legal challenge, arguing that the president did not have unilateral authority to proceed with construction.