The Supreme Court’s decision allowing President Donald Trump to continue construction of his controversial White House ballroom triggered an immediate wave of outrage Monday.
The justices ruled 5-4 to reject a preservation group’s effort to indefinitely halt construction of the ballroom, according to media reports. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s three liberal justices in dissent.
“The Court’s conservative majority can’t find the spine to tell Trump no about the ballroom,” former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance wrote on X. “Chief Justice Roberts is joined by the 3 liberal Justices in dissent, calling what Trump is doing 'likely unlawful.'"
Political scientist and longtime congressional scholar Norman Ornstein was even more blunt.
“Five lawless partisan hacks,” he posted of the conservative justices who allowed construction to continue.
Attorney Steve Martin took aim at the high court’s majority for seeming to work backward to hand Trump another legal victory.
“The Supreme Court is deciding first to support Trump, then they come up with a rationale,” Martin posted on X.
Former Republican Rep. Joe Walsh also tore into the decision, accusing the Supreme Court of once again refusing to rein Trump in.
“He does not have the legal authority to build the ballroom,” Walsh wrote Monday. “But here’s the Supreme Court once again allowing the president of the United States to be a lawless dictator.”
Veteran congressional reporter Jamie Dupree told his followers that the ruling essentially "greenlights the concept that a President can do anything - even if Congress never approved the project or funding for it.
He added: "Imagine what a Democratic President could tear down / rebuild without worrying about Congress.”
In a 5-4 decision, the Court’s conservative majority can’t find the spine to tell Trump no about the ballroom. Chief Justice Roberts is joined by the 3 liberal Justices in dissent, calling what Trump is doing “likely unlawful.” pic.twitter.com/wBnIlx2iey
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) August 31, 2026