Trump's sweeping makeover of the White House and Washington

Reuters reports that Trump's opponents have challenged in court and called a power grab[1] what it describes as "sweeping, unilateral changes."According to Reuters, Trump says a planned 90,000-square-foot (8,360-square-meter) White House ballroom will be "the greatest of its kind ever built."[2] Reuters reports that the US Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling in August, allowed Trump to continue construction[2]. The agency adds that Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in dissent that the project was "likely unlawful."[2]Reuters reports that Trump said the project would cost up to $2 million[1] when he announced the remodelling of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. According to the agency, his administration pursued a more-than-$16 million renovation[1] of the pool.Reuters reports that Trump wants to build a "triumphal arch"[1] near Arlington National Cemetery, and that the arch would be about 250 feet (76 meters) tall.[1] According to Reuters, veterans have sued to block the arch[1].Reuters also reports that Trump has deployed thousands of National Guard troops to the capital city[1]. According to a Reuters analysis in August[1], the troops appeared in only about 1.3% of criminal cases filed in the District of Columbia's Superior Court during their first year.Reuters further reports that Lafayette Square, which Trump has worked to renovate, has been largely closed to the public in 2026.[1]