Appeals Court: Trump Can’t Build Ballroom Without Congress’ Approval

A federal appellate court ruled on Friday that Donald Trump must get congressional approval to build his massive new ballroom at the East wing of the White House.

In a 2-1 decision, the court ruled that construction on the ballroom will have to halt, except for those parts of the structure for safety and security. But the judges are giving Trump’s team 14 days to seek Supreme Court review.

“Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its Executive Residence,” the judges wrote. “The President has no—and claims no—constitutionally assigned authority over that property, which is designed and maintained for the use of all Presidents, current and future, and for the American people.”

A lower court judge also ruled that Trump needed to go to Congress to build the ballroom, but as the president has appealed the decision, that ruling was stayed. That meant that construction could continue on the ballroom, with portions of the new structure visible in an aerial view.

More to come.