Carol Quillen, #NationalTrust’s CEO said she did not have a “hard objection” to a #WhiteHouse #ballroom — so long as its size, materials & design were consistent with the White House & did not overshadow the main building. It is the National Trust’s job, she said, to preserve #Americanhistory, particularly at the White House, given the building’s iconic status & central role. She noted that the org has also brought legal challenges to past admins’ construction projects.

#Trump #law #EastWing

…The #WhiteHouse also has defended the project by drawing a distinction between construction on the grounds, which admin officials say is covered by federal review panels, & demolition & site prep, which they maintain is not.

However, the #NationalTrust says that this is a distinction without a difference. Recent photos have shown that heavy construction machinery & teams of people are working regularly on the site, & #Trump has said that pile drivers are operating “all day, all night.”

#law

#WhiteHouse officials have previously dismissed criticism from the #NationalTrust, [in their typical manner] arguing that its leaders are “loser Democrats & liberal donors” who oppose #Trump on political grounds 🙄. However , the National Trust has a decades-long association with Trump: In 1995, he donated easements to the org to make his #MarALago resort in Florida a historic property in exchange for #TaxBreaks.

#FactCheck #TrumpLies #law #EastWing #ballroom #HistoricLandmark #USHistory

…The #NationalTrust …alleges that the #Trump admin violated the #Constitution’s property clause, which authorizes #Congress to oversee property on #FederalLand.

The National Trust’s lawsuit names Trump & other admin officials, including at the National Park Service [#NPS] & the General Services Administration [#GSA], as defendants.

#law #WhiteHouse #EastWing #ballroom #HistoricLandmark #USHistory #conservation

#Trump has also maintained that he is not bound by typical building restrictions or the need to seek construction approvals, citing conversations with advisers and experts.

“They said, ‘Sir, this is the White House. You’re the president of the United States, you can do anything you want,’” Trump said at an October dinner to celebrate the ballroom’s donors.

#FactCheck #TrumpLies #law #WhiteHouse #EastWing #ballroom #HistoricLandmark #USHistory #conservation

“No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever — not President Trump, not President Joe Biden, & not anyone else,” the complaint says. [yeah, no shit. Too late.]

#Trump #law #WhiteHouse #EastWing #ballroom #HistoricLandmark #USHistory #conservation

Just a bit too freaking late!

Maybe they could have done this BEFORE he demolished the entire #EastWing of the #WhiteHouse?!?!

#NationalTrust sues to stop #Trump #ballroom construction

The organization, which is charged by #Congress with #HistoricPreservation, has retained President Barack Obama’s former lawyer as it seeks to pause the project.

#law #HistoricLandmark #USHistory #conservation
washingtonpost.com/politics/20…