DOJ cites attack, ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ in seeking ballroom approval

Justice Department officials late Monday asked a federal judge to lift his order halting President Donald Trump’s planned $400 million ballroom, contending in a rambling legal filing that Saturday’s attack at the White House correspondents’ dinner proved why the space is needed.

“After the Saturday night attempted assassination, which could have never taken place in the new facility, reasonable minds can no longer differ — The injunction must be dissolved,” acting attorney general Todd Blanche and two other top Justice Department lawyers wrote in the filing to U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who ordered a halt to above ground construction on the project.

The Justice Department’s motion — unusually written for a government legal filing, containing dubious claims and resembling Trump’s Truth Social posts — was one of several documents filed to the court late Monday night. The motion also criticizes the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the nonprofit that brought the lawsuit, writing that the group’s “name is FAKE” and claiming that “they suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome, commonly referred to as TDS.” The motion calls the ballroom a “gift” to the country because Trump plans to pay for it with private donations and boasts about the president’s capabilities.

“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,” the Justice Department lawyers write.

Notably, none of the administration attorneys who have previously appeared or argued the case signed the motion, which was only signed by Trump political appointees. Trump posted screenshots of the motion on his Truth Social account on Tuesday morning.

The filing appears unlikely to move Leon, an appointee of President George W. Bush, who has previously criticized some of the administration’s arguments as “incredible, if not disingenuous.” He has expressed frustration with the Justice Department’s previous efforts to question his ruling, writing earlier this month that he did not want “to be dragooned into the role of construction manager.”

The Justice Department filing also resurrects questions, such as whether the National Trust has standing in the case, that Leon has already resolved.

Leon last month paused construction on the ballroom until Trump secures congressional authorization for his plan, making an exception for work “strictly necessary” to ensure White House security. Trump argued that the judge’s exception covered the full project; Leon disagreed and ordered a halt to aboveground construction. An appeals court stayed Leon’s order while it considers the case.

Trump has since repeatedly mocked Leon and his ruling, calling him a “Trump Hating Judge” in social media posts.

Trump has stepped up his efforts to build the ballroom in recent days, claiming in public remarks and on social media that such a facility would have prevented a would-be shooter from getting close to him. Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, was charged Monday with attempting to assassinate Trump. He is accused of charging a security checkpoint leading to the gala with a shotgun and a pistol.

The National Trust on Monday said that it would not drop its lawsuit, contending that its challenge is focused on whether the president has the executive authority to unilaterally demolish parts of the White House and build new facilities, and not related to national security. It also noted that the group had consistently called for any court injunction to allow continued construction of any underground bunker, and called for the Justice Department to tone down its language.

“Your assertion that this lawsuit puts the President’s life at ‘grave risk’ is incorrect and irresponsible,” Gregory Craig, a Foley Hoag lawyer representing the National Trust, wrote to the Justice Department in a letter shared with The Washington Post.

The Justice Department filing on Monday night also introduces a new claim: that the National Trust was “shown detailed plans and specifications” of the “Top Secret” facility being built under the ballroom.

The National Trust has previously told Leon that it is not privy to the structure being built under the ballroom, in part because administration officials have refused to share details beyond their public claims in court.

Monday night’s Justice Department motion was accompanied by two other administration filings.

Matthew Quinn, deputy director of the Secret Service, laid out the case to build the ballroom in his own late-night legal filing, citing Saturday’s incident. The ballroom “is a key component of providing a secure environment for the President to fulfill his duties,” Quinn wrote.

Stanley Woodward, the No. 3 official in the Justice Department, is now representing the administration in the case, according to another late-night filing.

Trump has prioritized the ballroom for months, sometimes mentioning the project more frequently than other major policy priorities. But his efforts have ramped up since Saturday’s incident, and a growing number of GOP lawmakers and allies are now touting the need for a secure space, too.

It is not clear whether the White House Correspondents’ Association, a private organization, would agree to hold its annual celebration in a White House ballroom.