Trump Officially Opens New White House Helipad

President Donald Trump debuted the new helipad at the White House during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 21.

The president cut the red, white, and blue ribbon with oversized gold scissors, alongside Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet and flanked by construction workers in fluorescent safety vests.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump heralded Marine One’s “maiden voyage” from the “Heliport,” and thanked Taiclet for his part in the venture, saying that the government has been considering the new pad for a quarter of a century. 

“Also, and most importantly, THANK YOU to the Great Construction Workers and Stone Masons of the Washington, D.C., area, who created something very special,” Trump said.

After shaking hands with some of those present, he handed off the scissors and made his way aboard Marine One as it sat on the brand-new pad.

The event featured video coverage, but not audio, as networks declined to provide pool coverage because of a feud between some members of the press and the administration.

The chair of the group of outlets, Chris Boughton, said that the pool will not be covering its designated events after the White House prevented CNN from taking part in coverage.

Trump has made a number of changes to the White House grounds since taking office in January 2025.

In addition to the helipad, his administration has renovated the Rose Garden, replacing some of the grassy area with a paved surface for holding events.

New flagpoles have been added on the North and South Lawns, and work has been done along the West Wing Colonnade and driveway to remove flagstone and replace it with black granite. Additionally, white granite was redone on the driveway around the South Lawn.

One of the biggest projects is the new ballroom. Despite legal challenges, the president has been working in and out of court to continue the building construction.

About two weeks ago, the Supreme Court handed down a 5–4 decision granting the government’s request to stay a lower court’s order that halted the above-ground construction of the ballroom until the completion of the lawsuit against the project by a historic preservation group. It allowed construction to continue.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States had initially called the project into question, citing a lack of plans with the National Capital Planning Commission, a lack of environmental impact assessment, and no congressional authorization.

Construction on the 90,000-square-foot ballroom began in September 2025 and required demolition of the East Wing, which the president said is too small and in poor repair.

The new ballroom is expected to cost around $400 million and has been funded by private donors.

First Lady Melania Trump spoke from the White House Rose Garden at an event on Sept. 9 to honor the 2026 White House Historical Association Presidential Sites Summit.

“It is our duty to ensure that the choices we make today are worthy of the legacy we pass forward,” she told attendees.

Matthew Vadum contributed to this report.