Federal Judge Richard Leon just ordered President Trump to halt the construction of his new ballroom, despite the fact that it is being paid for entirely with private money.
The George W. Bush appointed judge claims Trump does not have the authority he claims to have in building this ballroom.
Here’s more from the AP:
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to suspend its construction of a $400 million ballroom where it demolished the East Wing of the White House.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington granted a preservationist group’s request for a preliminary injunction that temporarily halts President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project.
Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, wrote, “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 President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!”
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued for an order pausing the ballroom project until it undergoes multiple independent reviews and wins approval from Congress.
I am sure this will be quickly overturned and construction will resume, because this ruling is ridiculous. Trump oversees the executive branch and, as president, has every right and authority to build this new ballroom.