The New Helipad
President Donald Trump announced on Aug. 19 that a 100‑foot‑diameter granite helipad is under construction on the White House South Lawn.
The project costs up to $6 million and is funded by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary.
Trump said the helipad will let Marine One land any helicopter without damaging the lawn, noting “Now with the helipad, we won’t have any problem with the grass.”
He added that the surface will bear the presidential seal hand‑carved into black granite and praised the workers as “brilliant artists.”
Trump explained a one‑and‑half‑week delay occurred because he ordered the slope to be redone, making the surface “dead flat.”
The White House Driveway
Trump unveiled a new driveway made of special white granite from California, replacing the old asphalt.
He claimed the granite lasts a million years, can bear 35,000 pounds per square inch, and will never leak.
The president said the project was financed by donations, including his own contribution.
South Lawn Grass
Trump announced that the South Lawn grass is being replaced with high‑quality turf.
He said the new grass, donated by ScottsMiracle‑Gro, will look beautiful in weeks.
He also pledged to replant grass in public parks across Washington, D.C.
The White House Facade
Trump described the White House facade as being in “very bad shape” before recent renovations.
He noted the stone and columns date to 1792, the original construction year, and that missing chunks have been restored to flawless condition.
“They had literally chunks of stone out of them missing, and now they’re really in flawless condition,” he said.
The Ballroom
Construction began in September 2025 on a 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom that will replace the East Wing.
The administration asked the Supreme Court on Aug. 14 to allow work to resume after lower courts ruled congressional approval was required.
Trump said he approved the Pentagon’s proposal after reviewing it and hopes the court will side with the earlier ruling.
He warned that a negative ruling would expose sensitive information to the public and America’s enemies.
Construction of the underground structure, extending about 65 feet over five stories, will remain undisclosed for security reasons.
