Appeals court orders Trump stop construction of White House ballroom

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ruled that President Donald Trump did not have the authority to construct his planned White House ballroom and ordered him to stop construction.

The three-judge panel of the court ruled 2-1 against the president, the Associated Press reported. The decision marks the latest legal setback for the project, which has become a national controversy as the president works to overhaul many D.C. landmarks.

The judges argued that the president is a "temporary tenant" of the White House and would need authority from Congress to make major alterations to the facility.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States brought the challenge.

Apart from the ballroom, Trump has also renovated numerous landmarks in the nation's capital, including several fountains, the Reflecting Pool, the equestrian statues near Arlington bridge, and several more.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.