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Or sign-in if you have an account.A view of the ongoing construction of a planned ballroom at the White House, as seen from the Washington Monument observation deck in Washington, DC on July 23, 2026. Photo by KENT NISHIMURA /AFP via Getty ImagesAn appeals court dealt a blow to U.S. President Donald Trump’s prized White House ballroom project on Friday, upholding a judge’s ruling that construction must halt since Congress had not approved it.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe appeals court, which had temporarily allowed construction to continue while it considered the case, upheld the lower court’s ruling but stayed its own decision for two weeks, giving Trump time to ask the Supreme Court to intervene.A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ruled 2-1 to uphold the district court order to halt construction above ground, while allowing work to continue below ground, where a military bunker is planned.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“This holding has nothing at all to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable, or not, as a matter of policy. This ruling does not even necessarily mean that the Defendants may not ultimately construct the ballroom,” the majority wrote.“What it does mean is that the Defendants may not do so during the district court’s expeditious litigation without securing Congress’s authorization, as the Constitution and laws require.”Trump, who has repeatedly complained that the White House lacks sufficient space for grand galas such as state dinners, unilaterally ordered construction of the massive ballroom.Work on the project began last year with the sudden demolition of the White House’s entire historic East Wing.The U.S. president previously said that the cost of the ballroom — initially proposed at US$200 million but now estimated as much as US$400 million — is being met by private donors, including his wealthy supporters and a slew of corporations.It is just one of Trump’s pet projects to leave his mark on Washington by the time he leaves office in 2029, along with a renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and other parks, as well as the construction of a gigantic arch.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. 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