Trump says he’ll appeal decision halting ballroom construction to the Supreme Court

A federal appeals court affirmed a federal judge’s ruling to block construction of the White House ballroom while allowing below-ground construction to move forward.

A federal appeals court on Friday affirmed a U.S. judge’s ruling to block construction of the White House ballroom while allowing below-ground work to move forward.

In a 2-1 decision, a panel of judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed the modified preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon. But it stayed its own ruling for 14 days to allow the Trump administration to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.

President Donald Trump blasted the ruling in a post on his social media platform and vowed to “immediately” appeal the decision to the nation’s highest court.

Trump said the ballroom project, which includes the construction of an underground complex that would house military and security facilities, was “required for the National Security of Washington, D.C.”

“The Military and Secret Service are viewing this horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling as a National Security threat to our Nation in that the entire Complex is being built for the protection of our Country and, additionally, all future Presidents,” Trump said, repeating an argument he has made throughout the proceedings in the case.