“For years, the White House has desperately needed a proper Helipad on White House grounds that will allow the President to land safely and also protect the beautiful South Lawn grass from the fierce exhaust fumes of the incredible Marine One,” spokesman Davis Ingle told WaPo in a statement. “Thanks to President Trump, the White House has never looked better, and it will only continue to get better under his leadership.”
Trump Reportedly Dissatisfied With Progress of Latest White House Renovation Project and Tears Up $5 million Effort
Aug 4th, 2026, 2:44 pm
Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo
President Donald Trump has called for a do-over on one of his numerous White House renovations, this time allegedly forcing contractors to tear up weeks’ worth of work on the presidential helipad.
The president has apparently been frustrated with the appearance of the helipad on the South Lawn and the slope of the ground where it is being built, according to The Washington Post.
While he originally sought to have the work complete by September, when Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit, contractors have now undone their efforts and are thinking of changing the South Lawn itself, WashPo reported.
The project is being paid for by Lockheed Martin, which owns the helicopter manufacturer, and has sunk $5 million into the effort. It’s unclear how much starting over could impact the cost.
The company didn’t respond to the outlet’s requests for comment on whether it would cover any increased costs, and contractor Clark Construction referred the paper’s questions to the White House. The White House did not comment.
The president has been on a controversial renovation spree around the White House, starting with the stunning demolition of the East Wing in favor of a ballroom and tearing up the Rose Garden in favor of a patio.
The administration even used a tarp illustrated with an image of the North Portico to cover up its work renovating the columns in that section of the White House.
A spokesman told The Washington Post the helipad work was “desperately needed.”
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