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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sophie Clark

Trump lashes out at ballroom lawsuit in late-night rant: ‘Highly damaging to our country’

President Donald Trump went on a late night rant on Truth Social about the lawsuit challenging his White House construction projects.

The president took to his social media platform to call the lawsuit against his prized ballroom “highly damaging to our country.”

The former real estate magnate has spent a significant amount of time in his second presidency undergoing new construction projects in Washington DC, including demolishing the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom, renovating the Federal Reserve building, and repainting the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to “American Flag Blue.”

Writing on Truth Social, the president said: “The Ballroom is coming along fantastically well. It’s on time, and under budget…

“It is desperately needed, and will be very special! The woman that sued me has absolutely no STANDING to do so. This should not even be a case, and it is highly damaging to our Country.

“She is highly litigious, a serial plaintiff, and said she was bothered in her walking by the White House, but didn’t state her involvement in distant other places.”

Although he did not refer to her by name, the woman the president referred to is likely Alison Hoagland, a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a group suing the Trump administration over the ballroom construction.

Hoagland became the face of the lawsuit when, as part of the injunction, she had to prove that her personal enjoyment of the White House grounds was being infringed upon.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States is suing the Parks Department over the demolition of the East Wing (AP)
The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States is suing the Parks Department over the demolition of the East Wing (AP)

Hoagland is not a serial plaintiff, as she has not sued the administration personally over anything before, per Daily Beast.

She spoke to NPR in April, telling host Steve Inskeep: “I'm appalled because it's [causing] harm to everybody. It's not just me. This is the American people's house, and we should be very concerned about what is happening to it.”

A copy of the suit filed in December obtained by The Independent states: “No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever—not President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else.

“And no president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in.”

The president has also ordered for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to be painted
The president has also ordered for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to be painted

Despite the president claiming that the construction is under budget, the budget for the ballroom has increased from $200 million to over $400 million.

Meanwhile, the president said he is excited for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to be filled in this weekend, another of his D.C. projects.

He took credit for the size of the pool in an Oval Office press conference, despite it being constructed in 1923.

The White House and the lead attorney for the National Trust for Historic Preservation have been contacted for comment.

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