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A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has issued a temporary injunction to pause the massive project.
In his ruling, Judge Richard J. Leon emphasized, “The President of the United States serves as a caretaker of the White House for upcoming First Families.”
“However, the President is not the proprietor!” he asserted.
Judge Leon further noted, “No law remotely grants the President the sweeping authority he purports to have.”
While presidents can oversee “care, maintenance, and repairs,” Leon clarified that current statutes suggest tasks such as replacing lightbulbs, mending broken furniture, and updating wallpaper.
Trump hit back at the judge in a Truth Social post.
“In the Ballroom case, the Judge said we have to get Congressional approval. He is WRONG!” the president wrote.
“Congressional approval has never been given on anything, in these circumstances, big or small, having to do with construction at the White House.
“In this case, even less so, because the Ballroom is being built with Private Donations, no Federal Taxpayer Money!”
It appears Trump did not read the injunction, because the judge had detailed how previously renovations were authorised and funded by Congress.
Leon is an experienced judge who was appointed to the bench by President George W Bush.
“Unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorisation, construction has to stop!” Leon wrote.
Trump’s ballroom would impede that line-of-sight.
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