<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A judge has halted </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span>'s construction of a ballroom at the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/white-house" rel="" target="" title="White House"><span>White House</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The president </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/most-of-white-house-east-wing-torn-down-photos-show/3580f2a7-6252-489d-8fcb-1433c92f52bb" rel="" target="" title="demolished the East Wing"><span>demolished the East Wing</span></a><span> of the property in order to build a much bigger space, including a massive ballroom.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But a federal judge in Washington DC ordered a halt to the immense project with a temporary injunction."</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/pete-hegseth-suspicious-trades-blackrock-defence-stocks-pentagon-secretary-of-war-denial/31095d1a-7d6e-479b-96f8-e087a3a92de8"><strong><span>Iran attacks Pete Hegseth on reports he sought to profit from the war</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families," Judge Richard J Leon wrote in his decision.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He is not, however, the owner!"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a scathing judgement, Leon declared the president could not carry out </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/white-house-east-wing-demolition-begins/03ca45ca-98b5-42f0-b1a2-5a9fda2801d7" rel="" target="" title="extensive renovations"><span>extensive renovations</span></a><span> without congressional approval.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-ballroom-construction-halted-white-house-east-wing-usa-politics-news/3f85b9a7-b9d3-4d44-8af3-380a25eea3a5" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have," the judge wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Leon said while presidents were able to carry out "care, maintenance and repair", the existing laws "bring to mind things like replacing the lightbulbs, fixing broken furniture, and changing the wallpaper".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump hit back at the judge in a Truth Social post.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/kid-rock-apache-helicopters-nashville-no-kings-protest-army-investigation-us-politics-news/f7427a60-bc78-4ca1-b90b-95eaafb50359" rel="" target="" title="Trump's defence secretary blocks investigation of Kid Rock chopper crews"><strong><span>Trump's defence secretary blocks investigation of Kid Rock chopper crews</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In the Ballroom case, the Judge said we have to get Congressional approval. He is WRONG!" the president wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Congressional approval has never been given on anything, in these circumstances, big or small, having to do with construction at the White House. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In this case, even less so, because the Ballroom is being built with Private Donations, no Federal Taxpayer Money!"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It appears Trump did not read the injunction, because the judge had detailed how previously renovations were authorised and funded by Congress.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Leon is an experienced judge who was appointed to the bench by President George W Bush.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-airport-renamed-after-president-palm-beach-florida-usa-news/48ef41f6-da44-4ced-b156-21b5b6fb2cb8" rel="" target="" title="Major airport to be renamed for Donald Trump"><strong><span>Major airport to be renamed for Donald Trump</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorisation, construction has to stop!" Leon wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ballroom as it is currently designed has drawn the consternation of architects across the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="" title="United States"><span>United States</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When Washington DC was planned by Pierre L'Enfant under the instructions of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/stolen-painting-of-president-george-washington-recovered-after-burglary/52985c42-1f62-4723-a75a-190b1a0b84a3" rel="" target="" title="President George Washington"><span>President George Washington</span></a><span>, the Capitol was intended to be visible down Pennsylvania Avenue.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump's ballroom would impede that line-of-sight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-it-takes-two-to-taco-usa-iran-war-latest-news/420dd38d-8d0a-45bf-91df-72b06326fe23"><strong><span>It takes two to TACO: Why Trump can't end war with Iran by himself</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>