According to CNN, on August 31 local time, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge by a cultural preservation organization, ruling 5 to 4 in favor of allowing U.S. President Donald Trump to continue building a large new banquet hall at the White House.
In the unsigned eight-page judgment, the Supreme Court justices concluded that the national historical preservation trust fund may lack legal standing to challenge the project—that is, its right to sue. However, the Supreme Court justices did not rule on whether the banquet hall project itself was legally valid.
Chief Justice John Roberts and three liberal judges voted against it.
According to CNN, even though the lawsuit regarding the banquet hall is still in the lower court, the ruling by the Supreme Court is a significant victory for Trump. It is likely to give Trump enough time to complete the project on time.
Later, Trump posted a message on social media, saying he was "very happy".
We are currently in America's golden age, and this building will become one of the most outstanding buildings in Washington D.C.'s history,” he wrote, "By summer of 2028, this magnificent hall and military complex will become a national pride project."
Trump also reiterated that the construction costs will be fully sponsored by "patriots and businesses", and no fees will be charged to American taxpayers.
The Trump administration has been intensifying the construction of this banquet hall, viewing it as a cornerstone of his presidential legacy. Trump stated that, for national security reasons, it is necessary to build this banquet hall, as it will be equipped with the most advanced facilities designed to protect the White House from attacks.
CNN reported that Trump has invested a great deal of effort in trying to impose his style and taste on the White House and Washington, D.C. He was personally involved in the construction of the banquet hall and actively participated in several construction projects, including the renovation of the Arc de Triomphe, the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial, and the Kennedy Center. However, all of these projects have faced legal challenges.
The National Historical Conservation Trust Fund, an American organization dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage, believes it has the right to file a lawsuit. This is because its member Alison Hoggard has proven that the project has impaired her appreciation of the White House as an architectural historian.
The majority of judges on the Supreme Court rejected this point.
The chairman of the organization, Brent Leighs, issued a statement following the ruling saying: “We are deeply disappointed by today's ruling from the Supreme Court and respectfully express disagreement with the majority opinion on the issue of standing in the case. Notably, the majority has not provided an opinion on whether the Banquet Hall project is legal.”
