BREAKING NEWS: Donald Trump Announces He Will Appeal Federal Court’s Sweeping Ruling Ordering Compensation for ACECO Demolition Company and Immediate Reconstruction of the White House East Wing After Judges Declare the Demolition Illegal and in Violation of the Federal Preservation Act

BREAKING NEWS: Donald Trump Announces He Will Appeal Federal Court’s Sweeping Ruling Ordering Compensation for ACECO Demolition Company and Immediate Reconstruction of the White House East Wing After Judges Declare the Demolition Illegal and in Violation of the Federal Preservation Act

In a fiery statement from the Oval Office this afternoon, President Donald Trump announced his intent to appeal a bombshell federal court ruling that declared the demolition of the White House East Wing illegal, ordering its immediate reconstruction and slapping the administration with hefty compensation demands for the contractor involved. The decision, handed down by a three-judge panel in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, accuses the Trump administration of flouting the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), marking a rare judicial rebuke of presidential authority over the nation’s most iconic residence. “This is a total witch hunt, folks—fake news judges trying to tear down what we’re building up,” Trump declared to a crowd of reporters and supporters gathered on the South Lawn, where the skeletal remains of the East Wing site loomed like a half-finished puzzle. “The East Wing was a dump anyway, a tiny little thing nobody cared about. We’re making the White House greater than ever with the best ballroom in the world. And now they want us to rebuild it? Not on my watch. We’re appealing all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to!”

The ruling stems from a cascade of lawsuits filed in the wake of the East Wing’s abrupt demolition last October, a project that ballooned from a modest renovation into a full-scale teardown without the public consultations or environmental reviews mandated by federal law. What began as President Trump’s vision for a lavish 90,000-square-foot state ballroom—capable of hosting 999 guests and funded entirely by private donors like Amazon, Apple, and Lockheed Martin—has devolved into a legal quagmire, with critics hailing the court’s decision as a victory for historic preservation. The saga unfolded in mid-October 2025, when demolition crews from Silver Spring, Maryland-based ACECO LLC descended on the White House grounds with excavators emblazoned in bold black, white, and red lettering. What started as the removal of a facade quickly escalated: Within days, the entire East Wing—built in 1902 under Theodore Roosevelt and rebuilt in 1942 during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s tenure—lay in rubble.

This neoclassical gem, home to the First Lady’s offices, a family theater, and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, was reduced to debris hauled off to sites in Hyattsville, Maryland, and a D.C. golf course. Trump had initially downplayed the scope in July, assuring the public that the $250–300 million project “won’t interfere with the current building.” But by October 21, photos emerged of crews ripping apart the colonnade and offices, sparking viral outrage. “It’s your house. And he’s destroying it,” tweeted former White House speechwriter David Frum, capturing the sentiment of historians and alumni who decried the loss of a structure integral to American lore—from Chelsea Clinton watching Super Bowls to Michelle Obama launching public health initiatives. ACECO, a firm with over 86 years of experience and a track record on federal projects, found itself ground zero for public fury.

Its Google rating plummeted from five stars to 1.8 amid a barrage of one-star reviews: “Destroying the People’s House with no regard for their permission,” one read. “You should be ashamed!” another blasted. The company’s website went “under construction,” social media profiles vanished, and Yelp temporarily disabled reviews to stem the tide. ACECO has remained tight-lipped, but the court’s order mandates compensation for the firm—estimated in the tens of millions—for work performed under what the judges called “good-faith reliance on presidential directive.” The federal court’s 45-page opinion pulls no punches, citing the administration’s sidestep of required reviews by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the Commission of Fine Arts. While the NHPA exempts the White House from some provisions, the judges ruled that the “wholesale demolition” without environmental impact studies or public input crossed a line, especially given the site’s age and potential hazards.

Compounding the controversy: Allegations of asbestos mishandling. The East Wing, constructed with materials from an era rife with the carcinogen, required meticulous abatement. Yet, Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass.) fired off letters to ACECO demanding air monitoring data and worker records, questioning if corners were cut. “This isn’t just about bricks and mortar—it’s about gambling with people’s health,” Markey wrote, echoing experts who warn of long-term risks from debris dispersal. The White House insists all protocols were followed, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt calling the probe “partisan nonsense.” The lawsuits began almost immediately. A Virginia couple, Charles and Judith Voorhees, filed for a temporary restraining order on October 23, arguing the project trampled federal preservation laws. The National Trust for Historic Preservation piled on, urging a freeze until proper consultations. Though early bids to halt the demolition failed, today’s ruling consolidates those claims into a mandate: Rebuild the East Wing “to its pre-demolition architectural integrity” at taxpayer expense if private funds falter, with ACECO’s payout tied to verified losses. Trump’s appeal vow electrified his base. “The radical left hates winners—they’d rather preserve dusty old rooms than build something magnificent,” he thundered, flanked by renderings of the opulent ballroom featuring crystal chandeliers and gold-leaf accents. Legal eagles predict the case could rocket to the Supreme Court, testing the limits of executive power over federal landmarks. As cranes idle on the National Mall and historians mourn lost artifacts—from FDR-era blueprints to Kennedy’s rose garden—the nation braces for round two. Will the ballroom rise from the ashes, or will the East Wing’s ghost haunt Trump’s legacy?