Trump blasts judge for 'playing games' with US security after jurist halted White House ballroom construction

By JAMES GORDON, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 00:41, 1 June 2026 | Updated: 00:41, 1 June 2026 Donald Trump launched a furious attack on the federal judge who attempted to halt construction of his controversial White House ballroom project. Trump on Sunday accused US District Judge Richard Leon of 'playing games with America's Security' as he unveiled dramatic new images of a proposed rooftop DronePort that would sit on the ballroom roof. The president blasted the jurist in a lengthy Truth Social post, claiming the planned drone facility would become one of the most sophisticated in the world and was essential to protecting Washington, D.C., from modern threats. 'Judge Richard Leon should stop playing games with America's Security!' Trump wrote. 'If anything happens, he will be held responsible for the Death and Destruction caused to our Country.' Trump's broadside came as the legal battle over his ambitious White House expansion project continues to intensify. Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, previously ruled that the administration lacked the authority to construct the massive ballroom without congressional approval and issued an injunction blocking above-ground work before an appeals court temporarily allowed construction to continue. Trump used the weekend to unveil a series of striking artist renderings showing what he called a 'DronePort' atop the planned ballroom, complete with military-style drones, armed personnel and sweeping views across the nation's capital. In a pair of weekend Truth Social posts, Trump shared dramatic artist renderings of what he called the 'DronePort' planned for the roof of the proposed White House Ballroom. President Donald Trump unveiled a series of dramatic artist renderings of a proposed White House 'DronePort,' describing it as a future centerpiece of his controversial ballroom project Trump's attack was aimed at US District Judge Richard Leon who previously ruled the administration lacked authority to build the ballroom without congressional approval A second rendering presents the DronePort at night, with illuminated landing circles, glowing runway-style lights and fireworks exploding above the Washington Monument in the distance The president portrayed it as a cutting-edge defense hub designed to protect the nation's capital from modern threats. 'The DronePort at the White House Ballroom will be, perhaps, the most sophisticated anywhere in the World!' Trump wrote on Sunday. 'It will safeguard our Nation's Capital, Washington, D.C., long into the future.'   The images posted by Trump depict a vast rooftop platform overlooking the capital with the Washington Monument visible in the distance.  Multiple drone aircraft can be seen lined up across the roof while armed military personnel stand guard around the perimeter. One rendering shows sleek gray drones parked in neat rows on a bright white rooftop.  Another depicts military vehicles and fuel trucks positioned alongside larger aircraft while troops gather in formation. A third image shows the facility illuminated at night, with circular landing pads glowing beneath the drones and fireworks exploding over the capital skyline. Trump first teased the concept Saturday with a shorter post. 'The DronePort on the roof of the White House Ballroom!' he wrote alongside one of the renderings, but it was Sunday's lengthy message that revealed just how central the drone facility has become to the administration's defense of the project. In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump claimed the DronePort would be 'perhaps, the most sophisticated anywhere in the World' and would protect Washington, D.C., for years to come One rendering shows a bright white rooftop overlooking Washington, D.C., with multiple gray military-style drones parked in formation while armed personnel patrol the perimeter  Trump points at the site of ongoing construction of the planned White House ballroom earlier this week The Ballroom construction site can be seen as President Donald Trump tours the area The president also renewed his criticism of litigation brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has also sought to halt the project. Trump has increasingly framed the development as a national-security necessity rather than merely a ceremonial ballroom. 'With the advent of highly sophisticated, and powerful, modern day weaponry, we can no longer defend Washington, D.C., with rifles and pistols, alone,' he wrote Sunday. 'This ridiculous lawsuit must be dismissed, IMMEDIATELY!' The administration has repeatedly argued that the project will provide enhanced security capabilities for the White House complex.  In a Fox News interview with Lara Trump that aired over the weekend, the president described a facility that extends far beyond a traditional ballroom. Trump said the building would include security infrastructure and other specialized features, while Lara Trump noted that the project would extend several floors underground. The president's comments come amid an ongoing legal battle over whether the administration has authority to build the massive ballroom project without explicit congressional approval Trump is seen holding a mockup of the White House ballroom last October  Architectural renderings of the new White House ballroom At one point during the interview, Trump said the facility would include 'drone ports' and 'sniper ports' above the ballroom. The president has also suggested that he hopes to use the new ballroom during the final months of his presidency and even floated the possibility of hosting a future inauguration event there. 'I would say it will be the greatest facility of its kind ever built by far,' Trump told Lara Trump. 'There'll never be anything like it.' The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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