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Donald Trump has slammed a US judge who blocked his plans to build a ‘DronePort’ on the roof of his $US400 million ($AU$557.5 million) White House ballroom, saying if “anything happens, he will be held responsible for the Death and Destruction” of the nation.
The US President shared multiple AI images of the drone base he hopes to build on the rooftop of the 8,361.27 square metre ballroom in a post on Truth Social on Sunday, US time.
“The DronePort at the White House Ballroom will be, perhaps, the most sophisticated anywhere in the World!” Mr Trump wrote alongside mock-up images showing large drones and trucks on the rooftop, surrounded by soldiers.
“It will safeguard our Nation’s Capital, Washington, D.C., long into the future.”
The President went on to criticise US District Judge Richard Leon, who halted construction of the above-ground portion of the ballroom last month, ruling the project must be approved by Congress.
Judge Leon’s injunction – which came after a complaint from The National Trust for Historic Preservation – was quickly put on hold by an appeals court, allowing construction to continue until early June.
The US Justice Department has asked the judge to lift the injunction and dismiss the case, but has not yet ruled on the request.
“Judge Richard Leon should stop playing games with America’s Security!” Mr Trump wrote in his Truth Social post.
“If anything happens, he will be held responsible for the Death and Destruction caused to our Country.”
Mr Trump urged the judge to dismiss a lawsuit to stop the construction of the ballroom filed by a “highly litigious woman”.
“(Judge Leon) has already created enough problems by allowing ‘Top Secret’ information to be released and exposed based on a ridiculous lawsuit started by a highly litigious woman (serial plaintiff!) whose ‘strolling,’ in her opinion, will be disturbed by the new, desperately needed structure – In any event, a woman who has absolutely no STANDING!,” he wrote.
“With the advent of highly sophisticated, and powerful, modern day weaponry, we can no longer defend Washington, D.C., with rifles and pistols, alone. This ridiculous lawsuit must be dismissed, IMMEDIATELY!”
The airspace over Washington D.C. is currently protected by Joint Air Defense Operations Center.
The post came after Mr Trump earlier first a photo of the Drone Port on Saturday, US time, showing drones being guarded on the rooftop by nearly a dozen military personnel.
‘Greatest drone empire’
Mr Trump unveiled details about the ‘DronePort’ during a walk-through of the ballroom construction site last month, telling reporters that Washington is “going to have the greatest drone empire”.
“The entire roof is built for military,” he said. “They have a massive drone capacity. Not only is it drone-proof, if a drone hits it, it bounces off, it won’t have any impact. But it’s also meant as a drone port that would protect all of Washington.”
He said the port will be set up for an “unlimited numbers of drones”.
“We are going to have the greatest drone empire that you’ve ever seen, and it’s going to protect Washington,” he said.
He said the building will feature an underground military hospital, research facilities and meeting rooms.
“The side walls are steel, impenetrable steel, and also impenetrable glass. The glass is approximately four inches thick, and yet it’s amazing. You can see through it as though it didn’t exist, and it can stop just about anything.”
Mr Trump said his ambitious $400m ballroom project is being funded by private donors.
Republicans had sought to use $1 billion in taxpayer funds for security enhancements to White House and the ballroom, however their proposal was struck down by a Senate parliamentarian last month.
The project – which has doubled in cost from an initial estimate of $US200 million – is expected to be completed before the end of Mr Trump’s term in 2029.
“This is a gift to the United States of America,” he said. “This is all my money and donors’ money. This is tax free.”
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