An attorney who once served as White House counsel to President Barack Obama, and who also served as President Bill Clinton’s lawyer during his impeachment trial is now heading up a lawsuit trying to stop President Donald Trump’s new ballroom.
From the Washington Post: Historic preservationists begged President Donald Trump in October not to rapidly demolish the White House’s East Wing annex for his ballroom project, urging him to wait for federal review panels and allow the public to weigh in. Now a group charged by Congress with helping to preserve historic buildings is asking a judge to block construction until those reviews occur, arguing that the ongoing project is illegal and unconstitutional.
The lawsuit from the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation, which was filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, represents the first major legal challenge to Trump’s planned 90,000-square-foot addition and is poised to test the limits of his power. The organization argues that the administration failed to undergo legally required reviews or receive congressional authorization for the project, which Trump has rushed to launch in hopes of completing it before his term ends in 2029.
“No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever — not President Trump, not President Joe Biden, and not anyone else,” the complaint says.
The administration in October rapidly demolished the East Wing to make way for the ballroom over the objections of the National Trust and other historic preservationists who urged the White House to pause its demolition, submit its plans to the National Capital Planning Commission and seek public comment.
Lawyers representing the National Trust say they are seeking a temporary restraining order on construction as the court reviews its claims. One of those lawyers on the lawsuit is Greg Craig, who previously served as White House counsel to President Barack Obama, and also served as President Bill Clinton’s lawyer during his impeachment trial in the late 1990s. Craig is working pro bono on the case to try to stop the White House ballroom construction.
President Trump has explained that the project will not cost taxpayers a dime, as it is being funded by private donations, including funds from his own pocket.
However, the National Trust claims the president did not go through the proper channels to first get the project approved, and appears to primarily be objecting to the size of the new building planned to replace the East Wing, which has already been demolished.
Carol Quillen, National Trust’s CEO, reportedly stated she did not have a “hard objection” to a White House ballroom — so long as its size, materials and design were consistent with the White House and did not overshadow the main building.
This morning, we filed a suit in federal court to pause construction of the proposed White House ballroom and halt work immediately.
We are calling on the Administration to follow all legally required review of changes to the People’s House.https://t.co/23Gk726xA5 pic.twitter.com/SX5qm4Oh6B
— Saving Places (@SavingPlaces) December 12, 2025
The National Trust for Historic Preservation (@SavingPlaces) is run by a bunch of loser Democrats and liberal donors who are playing political games. https://t.co/IoX0wupbnb pic.twitter.com/VfZG0nSFfd
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) October 22, 2025
Here’s the lawsuit, detailing the National Trust’s claims about the White House ballroom: https://t.co/OTnt5aJ42e
The National Trust is asking for a temporary restraining order to halt construction, too. Their lawyers say they hope to force a pause on the project next week. https://t.co/cGqXAcZ1xQ
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) December 12, 2025
Exclusive: Historic preservation group sues Trump over planned ballroom.
The National Trust (@SavingPlaces), charged by Congress with preserving historical buildings, says lawsuit is “last resort” after Trump officials ignored pleas.
w @jonathanreportshttps://t.co/x5CgnR98Or
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) December 12, 2025
READ MORE from the Washington Post.
The White House has released a list of donors who contributed to President Trump’s new ballroom, amid a backlash over the demolition of the decades-old East Wing to make way for the project. https://t.co/QNd7IEEtcy pic.twitter.com/ohT1Tqn354
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 24, 2025
BREAKING: A historic preservation group sues President Trump over his White House ballroom project. https://t.co/yDFmOUabzC pic.twitter.com/Q0oruj728R
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 12, 2025
BREAKING: Trump is sued by preservationists who are seeking architecture review and congressional approval over his White House ballroom project. https://t.co/WP7MDHqSqq
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 12, 2025
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