BREAKING: Federal Judge LIMITS Construction on President Trump’s Privately-Funded White House Ballroom – Trump Responds

A federal judge on Thursday limited the construction on President Trump’s privately-funded White House ballroom.

A federal appeals court on Saturday in a 2-1 ruling said President Trump can continue the construction on the White House ballroom… for now.

The appeals court judges sent the case back down to the US District Court judge who previously halted the construction on the ballroom.

The White House argued that the construction on the ballroom must continue for national security and safety reasons.

The construction can continue until at least April 17, the appeals court judges ruled.

Late last month, a federal judge ordered the privately funded Trump White House ballroom construction project to be halted.

US District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, temporarily halted construction on the ballroom.

The judge said Congress has to approve the construction project.

On Thursday, after the appeals court sent the case back down to the lower court, Judge Leon limited construction on the White House Ballroom.

The judge said the construction may only proceed on the underground bunker but not the 90,000 square-foot ballroom.

“For the reasons that follow, I will further clarify and amend my Order to stop only above-ground construction of the planned ballroom. My Amended Order does not, however, stop below-ground construction of national security facilities, work necessary to provide for presidential security, and construction necessary to protect and secure the White House and the construction site itself,” Judge Leon wrote in a 10-page opinion.

Judge Leon hit back at Trump and denied that he is playing the role of a ‘construction manager.’

“I will close by noting that I have no desire or intention to be dragooned into the role of construction manager. Contrary to Defendants’ suggestion, I have never required Defendants to “request and receive written approval” before proceeding with construction,” the judge wrote.

Judge Leon paused his order for seven days to give President Trump time to respond.

Last summer, the Trump Administration announced a White House Ballroom construction project.

“For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed. President Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people,” the Trump White House said.

“The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance. The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of ornately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House,” they said.

President Trump responded to the judge’s order:

The White House doesn’t have a Ballroom (No Taxpayer Money!), which Presidents have desperately wanted and desired for over 150 years, but a Trump Hating, Washington, D.C. District Court Judge, a man 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, is attempting to prevent future Presidents and World Leaders from having a safe and secure large scale Meeting Place, or Ballroom, one with Bomb Shelters, a State of the Art Hospital and Medical Facilities, Protective Partitioning, Top Secret Military Installations, Structures, and Equipment, Protective Missile Resistant Steel, Columns, Roofs, and Beams, Drone Proof Ceilings and Roofs, Military Grade Venting, and Bullet, Ballistic, and Blast Proof Glass —which all means that no future President, living in the White House without this Ballroom, can ever be Safe and Secure at Events, Future Inaugurations, or Global Summits.

This Magnificent Space will allow them to carry out their vital duties as the Leader of our Nation. Furthermore, the Ballroom, which is being constructed on budget and ahead of schedule, is needed now. Almost all material necessary for its construction is being built and/or on its way to the site, ready for installation and erection. Much of it has already been paid for, costing Hundreds of Millions of Dollars. If somebody, especially one with no standing, had a complaint — Why wasn’t it filed many months earlier, long before Construction was started?

The Public Record was open for all to see. Everybody knew that it was planned, and going to be built. This highly political Judge, and his illegal overreach, is out of control, and costing our Nation greatly. This is a mockery to our Court System! The Ballroom is deeply important to our National Security, and no Judge can be allowed to stop this Historic and Militarily Imperative Project. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP