President Donald Trump sharply condemned a federal appeals court Friday for blocking construction of his planned White House ballroom and security complex, arguing that the ruling endangers national security and pledging to take the case immediately to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a Truth Social post, Trump blasted the decision, writing, “The Military and Secret Service are viewing this horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling as a National Security threat to our Nation in that the entire Complex is being built for the protection of our Country and, additionally, all future Presidents.”

He also criticized the makeup of the appellate panel, stating that “two Obama and Biden Appellate Court Judges just voted against the desperately needed Military Center, required for the National Security of Washington, D.C., and our Country, itself.”

Earlier Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 that the administration may not continue constructing the ballroom without congressional approval. The court delayed enforcement of its ruling for 14 days, allowing the administration time to seek review from the Supreme Court.

Trump confirmed that his administration intends to move forward with an appeal, saying, “The decision has been stayed, and does not take effect for a period of time. We will be immediately appealing to the United States Supreme Court.”

The president argued that the project extends well beyond the construction of a ceremonial ballroom, describing it as a comprehensive security initiative designed to strengthen protections for the White House, its occupants, and future presidents.

According to Trump, the broader complex includes “Bomb Shelters, State of the Art Hospital and Medical Facilities, Protective Partitioning, Top Secret Military Facilities, 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.”

Emphasizing the integrated nature of the project, Trump added, “It is all tied together as one big, expensive, and very complex unit, which is vital for National Security and Military Operations of the United States of America!”

The appellate majority concluded that the president lacks the authority to proceed with the construction project without first obtaining congressional authorization.

At the same time, the judges stressed that their ruling did not address whether the ballroom itself is good public policy and did not foreclose the possibility that the project could ultimately move forward through the proper legal process.

Judge Neomi Rao dissented, arguing that the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacked legal standing to challenge the project and that the government’s national security interests favored allowing construction to continue.

Trump highlighted Judge Rao’s dissent, pointing to her conclusion that the lower court had engaged in “judicial overreach.”

In the portion quoted by Trump, Rao wrote, “This was a blatant abuse of discretion. To begin with, the district court had no jurisdiction because the Trust has no standing to stop construction at the White House.”

She further argued that the lower court had improperly prioritized aesthetics over security, writing, “The district court elevated the aesthetic displeasure of a single passerby over the government’s security interests in the ballroom and the security risks of leaving an open construction site at the President’s home and office.”

Trump echoed that argument, asserting that the appellate court was “totally wrong on the vital subject of STANDING, of which the plaintiff has none.”

He warned that the ruling “severely jeopardizes the lives and welfare of the people who work, and will be working, at the White House – including all future Presidents of the United States, and their families, as well as the lives of all those visiting, such as Heads of State and other Dignitaries, and all Americans who wish to visit the historic, beautiful Executive Mansion.”

The president also stressed that the project is being financed entirely through private donations rather than taxpayer funds. He said much of the construction has already been completed or fabricated, with significant portions of the materials already delivered or currently arriving at the site.

Trump wrote, “The Circuit Court also refused to acknowledge that the desperately needed, and totally secure Ballroom, which is being built ahead of schedule and under budget, is a Gift from President Trump and Great Patriots of the United States of America.”

He continued, “The entire Complex, Military and all, is largely built, fabricated, and paid for. Much is already on site, or being delivered. Why didn’t they bring this case long prior to construction starting? There will be no expense to the American Taxpayer.”

Trump closed by urging the Supreme Court to overturn the appellate ruling in full, declaring, “This unjust decision must be overturned by the Supreme Court in its entirety.”

{Matzav.com}