Federal Judge Yet to Rule on Trump’s Controversial White House Ballroom Project

Social media claims that a federal judge halted construction on President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project have been circulating since February 10, but these assertions are premature, according to official sources and court records.

The controversy began in October 2025 when the Trump administration initiated demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make way for a planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The project quickly drew legal challenges, with the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation filing a lawsuit in December 2025, arguing the administration lacked necessary approvals and congressional authority for the extensive renovation.

Recent viral social media posts claimed a federal judge had officially scrapped the project and discovered that “$400 million in ballroom donor money has either disappeared or simply never existed.” The posts included images of demolition at the East Wing site, complete with bulldozers clearing rubble.

However, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who is overseeing the case, has not yet issued a final ruling on the status of the construction. When contacted by Snopes, a White House spokesperson confirmed that the ballroom is not yet under construction and the project remains in the “demolition stage.”

Legal proceedings are still unfolding. In December 2025, Judge Leon denied the National Trust’s motion for a temporary restraining order, temporarily allowing work to continue. The judge noted at the time that because ballroom plans had not been finalized, there was no “imminent risk of irreparable aesthetic harm.”

The legal standoff intensified in January when the Trump administration filed arguments claiming that previous presidents did not require congressional approval for White House construction or renovations. The government also indicated that above-ground construction would not begin until April 2026.

By late January 2026, Judge Leon expressed skepticism about the administration’s legal authority to demolish the East Wing and proceed with construction. He indicated he would make a decision about a preliminary injunction in the coming weeks, likely in February 2026. Such an injunction would halt construction for the duration of the case.

Bloomberg reported that Leon predicted the issue would be appealed to a federal appeals court and possibly the Supreme Court. As of February 12, court records showed no injunction had been issued.

The funding for the massive project has also drawn scrutiny. Trump has repeatedly claimed the ballroom is privately funded, estimating costs between $300-400 million. In a January 25 social media post, he described the project as a “GIFT (ZERO taxpayer funding!)” from “Great American Patriots.”

The White House released a donor list in November 2025, which included charitable organizations, sports team owners, tech companies, media companies, and billionaires. The Associated Press reported that an additional corporation and an artificial intelligence chipmaker had also contributed. However, the administration has not disclosed individual contribution amounts.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to promote the project. On February 10, he posted on TruthSocial that construction was “on budget, and ahead of schedule” and shared digital renderings of the proposed ballroom.

The controversial renovation continues to be closely watched by preservationists, legal experts, and the public as its fate remains in legal limbo pending Judge Leon’s forthcoming decision.