Trump’s ritzy ballroom gets long-awaited approval by DC planning commission — despite court challenge

Always in His Presence · Apr 4, 2026

notyourenemy said:
The "DC planning commission" means nothing. What matters is what the court has decided.

Means nothing? Shall we take a look:

1. About NCPC

Established by Congress in 1924, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is the federal government’s central planning agency for the National Capital Region. Through planning, policymaking, and project review, NCPC protects and advances the federal government’s interest in the region’s development. The Commission provides overall planning guidance for federal land and buildings in the region by reviewing the design of federal and certain local projects, overseeing long-range planning for future development, and monitoring capital investment by federal agencies

2. Commission sends White House ballroom project to Congress for consideration

They held a hearing on the matter - and it passed The 12-member commission includes members appointed by congressional leadership, alongside presidential appointees and two members appointed by the D.C. mayor.

While NCPC operates as an independent executive agency, it was created by Congress, derives its powers from congressional legislation, and includes congressionally appointed members.

notyourenemy · Apr 4, 2026

Always in His Presence said:
While NCPC operates as an independent executive agency, it was created by Congress, derives its powers from congressional legislation, and includes congressionally appointed members.

Determining whether or not an action is constitutional is the function of the courts, not the legislature.....or the executive.

Always in His Presence · Apr 4, 2026

notyourenemy said:
Determining whether or not an action is constitutional is the function of the courts, not the legislature.....or the executive.

What part of the constitution covers a building project?

notyourenemy · Apr 4, 2026

Always in His Presence said:
What part of the constitution covers a building project?

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is itself a group appointed by Congress, correctly pointed out that presidents are not authorized to undertake projects which alter historic sites. Any such project is supposed to be approved by Congress.

essentialsaltes · Apr 4, 2026

Always in His Presence said:
What part of the constitution covers a building project?

The judiciary also looks at laws.

§8106. Buildings on reservations, parks, or public grounds

A building or structure shall not be erected on any reservation, park, or public grounds of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia without express authority of Congress.

It's also clear from context that the Executive Mansion was specifically part of the context of the law.

Always in His Presence · Apr 4, 2026

essentialsaltes said:
The judiciary also looks at laws.

In about a week - we will sure find out - right?

I commit to accept the ruling regardless of outcome - will you do the same?

essentialsaltes · Apr 4, 2026

Always in His Presence said:
In about a week - we will sure find out - right?

I commit to accept the ruling regardless of outcome - will you do the same?

I'm not sure what alternative you think there is, but yes, I will abide by the court's decision.

essentialsaltes · Apr 16, 2026

Trump lashes out at judge who delayed White House ballroom construction

Trump labeled Leon a “Trump Hating” judge who “has gone out of his way to undermine National Security, and to make sure that this Great Gift to America gets delayed, or doesn’t get built” in a social media post.

Though Leon blocked construction of the ballroom last month, he left wiggle room for the construction of national security and safety elements of the project to continue. The White House, however, interpreted Leon’s decision as allowing construction of the entire ballroom, saying that the whole project was interspersed with national security components.

But in a new ruling Thursday, Leon said this “brazen” and “disingenuous” interpretation of his earlier order could not stand. He instead emphasized that his initial order was meant to stop all “above-ground” components of the project — including the ballroom itself — while permitting underground components to advance. He said this division was based on representations from the White House itself about the significance of those underground safety and national security measures.

TRUTH STORM INCOMING!!!

essentialsaltes · Apr 16, 2026

essentialsaltes said:
TRUTH STORM INCOMING!!!

Imagine if he channeled that energy into, I dunno, developing a healthcare plan or a lasting agreement with Iran.

DaisyDay · Apr 17, 2026

essentialsaltes said:
Trump lashes out at judge who delayed White House ballroom construction
Trump labeled Leon a “Trump Hating” judge who “has gone out of his way to undermine National Security, and to make sure that this Great Gift to America gets delayed, or doesn’t get built” in a social media post.

Though Leon blocked construction of the ballroom last month, he left wiggle room for the construction of national security and safety elements of the project to continue. The White House, however, interpreted Leon’s decision as allowing construction of the entire ballroom, saying that the whole project was interspersed with national security components.

But in a new ruling Thursday, Leon said this “brazen” and “disingenuous” interpretation of his earlier order could not stand. He instead emphasized that his initial order was meant to stop all “above-ground” components of the project — including the ballroom itself — while permitting underground components to advance. He said this division was based on representations from the White House itself about the significance of those underground safety and national security measures.

TRUTH STORM INCOMING!!!

View attachment 378620 View attachment 378621
View attachment 378622 View attachment 378623

A woman walking her dog?

essentialsaltes · Apr 17, 2026

DaisyDay said:
A woman walking her dog?

This woman is at the center of the legal claim against Trump's ballroom project

INSKEEP: That view is crucial to the lawsuit. After President Trump ordered the demolition of the White House East Wing and released images of a ballroom, the National Trust for Historic Preservation sued. Alison Hoagland is a member of the board of that nonprofit.

HOAGLAND: I think my whole career is understanding the importance of architecture and how it explains human behavior. And particularly in the past.

INSKEEP: Her experience as a writer on historic architecture informs her view of the ballroom, which is designed to be far larger than the house itself.

HOAGLAND: It puts the emphasis on the wrong place. The emphasis should be on the White House - the center of our government, the head of state's house and office. And as said, it's a distraction. It takes all your attention to something big and irrelevant and asymmetrical. And the administration is welcome to build a ballroom on the site. They could do it much better. They could make it lower. They could make it almost hidden. They could make it deferential to the White House and still have everything he needs.

INSKEEP: That's Hoagland's opinion, but to be part of a lawsuit, you need more than an opinion. You need to have legal standing, which means you have to show the action you are suing against affects you. Hoagland wrote a letter saying the ballroom disturbs her walks, her view of the city.

The judge says that you, Professor Hoagland, adequately described the specific ways in which, in the absence of the injunction, your interests in the aesthetic use and enjoyment of the White House grounds will be irreparably injured. It is your irreparable harm that made the injunction possible. I wish people could see the apparent joy on your face.

HOAGLAND: (Laughter) Oh, actually, I'm appalled because it's harm to everybody. It's not just me. This is the American people's house, and we should be very concerned about what is happening to it.

Say it aint so · Apr 17, 2026

essentialsaltes said:
Imagine if he channeled that energy into, I dunno, developing a healthcare plan or a lasting agreement with Iran.

Heck, if he did that everything he said that would be done "in 2 weeks" may get done.

Always in His Presence · Apr 17, 2026

essentialsaltes said:
This woman is at the center of the legal claim against Trump's ballroom project
INSKEEP: That view is crucial to the lawsuit. After President Trump ordered the demolition of the White House East Wing and released images of a ballroom, the National Trust for Historic Preservation sued. Alison Hoagland is a member of the board of that nonprofit.

HOAGLAND: I think my whole career is understanding the importance of architecture and how it explains human behavior. And particularly in the past.

INSKEEP: Her experience as a writer on historic architecture informs her view of the ballroom, which is designed to be far larger than the house itself.

HOAGLAND: It puts the emphasis on the wrong place. The emphasis should be on the White House - the center of our government, the head of state's house and office. And as said, it's a distraction. It takes all your attention to something big and irrelevant and asymmetrical. And the administration is welcome to build a ballroom on the site. They could do it much better. They could make it lower. They could make it almost hidden. They could make it deferential to the White House and still have everything he needs.

INSKEEP: That's Hoagland's opinion, but to be part of a lawsuit, you need more than an opinion. You need to have legal standing, which means you have to show the action you are suing against affects you. Hoagland wrote a letter saying the ballroom disturbs her walks, her view of the city.

The judge says that you, Professor Hoagland, adequately described the specific ways in which, in the absence of the injunction, your interests in the aesthetic use and enjoyment of the White House grounds will be irreparably injured. It is your irreparable harm that made the injunction possible. I wish people could see the apparent joy on your face.

HOAGLAND: (Laughter) Oh, actually, I'm appalled because it's harm to everybody. It's not just me. This is the American people's house, and we should be very concerned about what is happening to it.

Oh, she doesn't like the way it looks -

Always in His Presence · Apr 17, 2026

What do we know:

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that above-ground ballroom construction must stop until Congress authorizes it, but he clarified on April 17 that below-ground work—bunkers, military installations, and other national-security facilities—can continue. apnews.com
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals had extended a stay allowing all construction to proceed through April 17 while the administration decides whether to seek Supreme Court review. npr.org
The National Capital Planning Commission gave final approval on April 2; the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design back in February. apnews.com

White-House-ballroom-plans-National-Capital-Planning-Commission-Shalom-Baranes-Associates-03-1600x958.webp

iluvatar5150 · Apr 17, 2026

Always in His Presence said:
What do we know:

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that above-ground ballroom construction must stop until Congress authorizes it, but he clarified on April 17 that below-ground work—bunkers, military installations, and other national-security facilities—can continue. apnews.com

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals had extended a stay allowing all construction to proceed through April 17 while the administration decides whether to seek Supreme Court review. npr.org

The National Capital Planning Commission gave final approval on April 2; the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design back in February. apnews.com

It’s hard to argue that, in the rendering you’ve shown, the ballroom doesn’t dominate the view.

The WH isn’t that big in person.

Always in His Presence · Apr 17, 2026

iluvatar5150 said:
It’s hard to argue that, in the rendering you’ve shown, the ballroom doesn’t dominate the view.

The WH isn’t that big in person.

yes, I was surprised the first time I was there - it is not nearly as large and foreboding as it is portrayed. The renderings also show how the ballroom's exterior mirrors the architecture.

Pommer · Apr 18, 2026

Try as I might, I can‘t work up a sweat over whether President Donald Trump gets a massive new ballroom built, (or not), but they did knock the old Eastwing down and there will have to be something there, so it might as well be as big and opulent as is fitting the Richest Nation in the History of the Planet.

Trump “building things” is a good thing. (Knocking them down before all the ducks were in a row…well, we can‘t have everything!)

Servus · Apr 18, 2026

Pommer said:
What (if any) ”benefits“ do donors receive? (Besides the satisfaction of seeing their money transformed into a veritable pleasure-dome.)

What if any benefits do those who donate to the construction any facility receive?

Servus · Apr 18, 2026

It's real simple. Instead of dignitaries and such having to slosh around on the lawn under a plastic tent, they get to be in actual room.

The actual room, as opposed to the plastic tent, will actually have indoor plumbing.

This is something that should have been done decades ago.

VirOptimus · Apr 18, 2026

Servus said:
What if any benefits do those who donate to the construction any facility receive?

Do you think the corporations donate from the goodness of their harts?

Trump’s ritzy ballroom gets long-awaited approval by DC planning commission — despite court challenge

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§8106. Buildings on reservations, parks, or public grounds​

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Trump lashes out at judge who delayed White House ballroom construction​

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Trump lashes out at judge who delayed White House ballroom construction​

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This woman is at the center of the legal claim against Trump's ballroom project​

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This woman is at the center of the legal claim against Trump's ballroom project​

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