WASHINGTON — Federal attorneys are seeking dismissal of a lawsuit challenging a proposed $400 million White House ballroom project, but their court document employs language typically associated with President Trump’s social media communications rather than traditional legal writing.
Monday’s Justice Department submission contains numerous characteristics common in Trump’s written statements, including unusual capitalization patterns, exclamation marks, tangential remarks, rhetorical questioning, presidential praise, and claims that critics are mentally unstable.
The 16-page document, bearing the signatures of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, demonstrates how significantly the president has broken down the traditional barrier of independence between the Justice Department and White House operations.
“The National Trust for Historic Preservation’ is a beautiful name, but even their name is FAKE because when they add the words ‘in the United States’ to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, it makes it sound like a Governmental Agency, which it is not,” opens the filing’s initial statement.
The preservation organization initiated legal action in December following the White House’s demolition of the East Wing to create space for Trump’s proposed ballroom designed to accommodate 999 guests. While Trump claims private donations fund the construction, taxpayer money covers security enhancements and underground bunker installation.
The organization’s legal challenge contends that Trump exceeded his executive powers by advancing the construction without securing Congressional approval and necessary federal agency clearances.
Following Saturday’s shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump and Republican allies have intensified their advocacy for the ballroom, claiming the event demonstrates the necessity for a protected venue capable of hosting large gatherings. Federal attorneys requested the Trust abandon its legal challenge, but the organization refused.
“What Saturday’s awful event does not change is that the Constitution and multiple federal statutes require Congress to authorize construction of a ballroom on White House grounds, and that Congress has not done so,” responded Trust attorney Gregory Craig in his reply to government representatives.
Monday’s Justice Department motion argues the court should reject the lawsuit, claiming it “greatly endangers the lives of all Presidents, current and future.”
When questioned about the court submission, White House officials did not dispute presidential involvement in creating or revising the Justice Department’s legal arguments.
“President Trump is intimately involved in the ongoing disgraceful lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and is working diligently with his team of lawyers to bring this charade to an end,” stated White House spokesman Davis Ingle.
Justice Department representatives did not provide comment when contacted.
Tuesday morning saw Trump sharing the filing across social media platforms, posting images of all 16 pages without additional commentary.
The legal document describes the Trust as “very bad for our Country,” echoing language frequently employed by the president. The submission twice alleges the Trust suffers from “Trump Derangement Syndrome, commonly referred to as TDS,” a fictional condition the president regularly assigns to his detractors.
The filing references Trust attorney Craig — formerly White House Counsel — as “the lawyer for Barack Hussein Obama.” Trump has consistently used the former president’s complete legal name, language that echoes his historical challenges to Obama’s allegiances, religious beliefs, and American birth.
Federal attorneys additionally claimed that “because it is DONALD J. TRUMP, a highly successful real estate developer, who has abilities that others don’t, especially those who assume the Office of President, this frivolous and meritless lawsuit was filed. Again, it’s called TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”
