The US Department of Justice has leveraged a weekend shooting in Washington DC to pressure a preservation group into dropping a lawsuit aimed at halting construction of Donald Trump’s White House ballroom.
Officials Seize on Incident to Advocate for Controversial Project
Several Trump administration officials, including the president himself, used the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner to promote completion of the $400 million project. The East Wing of the White House was abruptly demolished to make way for the new ballroom, which officials argue is necessary as a “safe space.”
On Sunday night, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche posted a letter on social media addressed to lawyers representing the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), labeling the lawsuit “frivolous.” The letter demanded that the organization voluntarily withdraw the suit or face a new dismissal motion from the Justice Department.
Letter Highlights Safety Concerns
“Put simply, your lawsuit puts the lives of the President, his family, and staff at grave risk,” wrote Brett Shumate, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s civil division. “I hope yesterday’s narrow miss will help you finally realize the folly of a lawsuit that literally serves no purpose except to stop President Trump no matter the cost.”
Shumate argued that the White House ballroom is essential for the safety of the president, his family, cabinet, and staff. He claimed that the Washington Hilton, site of Saturday’s shooting, is currently the only ballroom in the capital large enough for major gatherings and is “demonstrably unsafe.”
The letter echoed a post by Trump on his Truth Social network, where he insisted that security agencies and every president for the last 150 years have demanded a large, safe, and secure ballroom on White House grounds. “It’s time to build the ballroom,” Blanche wrote on X.
Legal Battle Over the Ballroom
Trump’s push for a new ballroom on the former East Wing site has faced legal hurdles. In March, District Court Judge Richard Leon in Washington DC granted a preliminary injunction requested by the NTHP, which argued that Trump exceeded his authority by demolishing the East Wing and starting construction without congressional approval.
However, a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for Washington DC stayed Leon’s order earlier this month, allowing construction to continue while the lawsuit proceeds. The panel emphasized that its order “should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of that motion,” leaving the future of the 1,000-seat ballroom—larger than the White House itself—uncertain. The next hearing is tentatively set for June 5.
Shumate’s letter indicated his availability to discuss ending the litigation on Monday. The Guardian contacted the NTHP for comment. In a statement following the appeals panel’s April 11 order, the trust said it plans to pursue the lawsuit, affirming its commitment to preserving the White House’s historic significance and advocating for broad consultation.
