Trump ordered to stop his $400,000,000 White House ballroom project

The US President has erupted in fury after his glitzy ballroom project for the White House was blocked by a judge.

Federal judge Richard Leon issued a ruling filled with exclamation points as he ordered construction on the demolished East Wing to stop.

In a 35-page decision, the judge declared that Congress needed to approve the ballroom and that the Trump Administration had not followed proper procedures.

In response, the President launched a blistering defense of his prized 90,000sq ft ballroom, saying it was vital for his security because it was equipped with a ‘drone-proof roof’ and other new tech.

The $400,000,000 project began in October after the shock destruction of the historic East Wing.

However National Trust for Historic Preservation sued the Administration, arguing that the White House had broken the law by starting the building works without filing plans with the National Capital Planning Commission and without authorisation from Congress.

Leon agreed that approval was needed from the other branches of government.

He said: ‘I have concluded that the National Trust is likely to succeed on the merits because no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.’

The judge continued: ‘The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!’

In a sarcastic conclusion, Leon dismissed concerns that any delay to the project would harm US national security.

He said this was ‘grasping at straws’, adding a scoffing ‘Please!’.

‘The existence of a ‘large hole’ beside the White House is, of course, a problem of the President’s own making!’ he wrote.

The order takes effect in 14 days, allowing time for an appeal, which Trump has vowed to do.

He wrote on his Truth Social account: ‘The National Trust for Historic Preservation sues me for a Ballroom that is under budget, ahead of schedule, being built at no cost to the Taxpayer, and will be the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World.

He added: ‘All I am doing is fixing, cleaning, running, and ‘sprucing up’ a terribly maintained, for many years, Building.’

The President then continued his tirade against the judge’s ruling with reporters in the Oval Office.

Reading from prepared notes, he said the project was a matter of presidential security.

Trump explained there would be a ‘drone-proof roof’, as well as ‘air-handling systems’ and ‘biodefense all over’.

He also said the ballroom was needed to host large events for world leaders and other guests and that a ballroom tent was not sufficient because how wet the grass gets.

‘King Charles, who’s a great guy. We don’t want him to sit in a pool of water,’ he added.

Trump’s new lavish ballroom will have floor-to-ceiling white and gold decorations, the concept images revealed, matching his current shiny Oval Office decor.

Once complete, the room can fit around 1,000 seated guests.

The demolition of the East Wing, which traditionally housed the First Lady’s office, attracted backlash last year.

The East Wing was built in 1902 and expanded in 1942 during the Second World War.

The ballroom will be the biggest structural change to the executive mansion since the addition in 1948 of the Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn, even dwarfing the residence itself.

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