President Donald Trump unfurled a nearly 500-word screed in response to an appeals court loss for his White House ballroom project.
A three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit agreed 2-1 with a federal judge’s ruling from April requiring construction to pause until Congress expressly authorizes the project, which they dubbed “utterly lawless.”
But Trump insisted on Truth Social that he needed it.
“Two Obama and Biden Appellate Court Judges just voted against the desperately needed Military Center, required for the National Security of Washington, D.C., and our Country, itself,” Trump posted.
He quoted appellate Judge Neomi Rao, whom he appointed himself in 2018, from her dissent in the ballroom ruling, saying the district court’s decision was “blatant abuse of discretion,” and Trump said his administration would “immediately” appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“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 posted. “The single, integrated project includes Bomb Shelters, State of the Art Hospital and Medical Facilities, Protective Partitioning, Top Secret Military Facilities, Structures and Equipment, Protective Missile Resistant Steel, Columns, Roofs, and Beams, Drone Proof Ceilings and Roofs, Military Grade Venting, and Bullet, Ballistic, and Blast Proof Glass.”
“It is all tied together as one big, expensive, and very complex unit, which is vital for National Security and Military Operations of the United States of America!” he added.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is authorized by Congress to preserve historic buildings, challenged Trump’s project in December, saying the president had skipped required reviews before demolishing the White House East Wing and did not receive congressional authorization for the project, which has proceeded despite the lawsuit.
“The Circuit Court’s decision, which is totally wrong on the vital subject of STANDING, of which the plaintiff has none, severely jeopardizes the lives and welfare of the people who work, and will be working, at the White House — including all future Presidents of the United States, and their families, as well as the lives of all those visiting, such as Heads of State and other Dignitaries, and all Americans who wish to visit the historic, beautiful Executive Mansion,” Trump posted.
“The Circuit Court also refused to acknowledge that the desperately needed, and totally secure Ballroom, which is being built ahead of schedule and under budget, is a Gift from President Trump and Great Patriots of the United States of America,” Trump added. “The entire Complex, Military and all, is largely built, fabricated, and paid for. Much is already on site, or being delivered. Why didn’t they bring this case long prior to construction starting? There will be no expense to the American Taxpayer. This unjust decision must be overturned by the Supreme Court in its entirety. Thank you for your attention to this deeply important National Security matter!”
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