16/09/2026
TRUMP UNVEILS NEW GRANITE WHITE HOUSE HELIPAD AMID COST AND PRESERVATION CRITICISM
U.S.A President Donald Trump has unveiled the newly completed granite helicopter landing zone on the South Lawn of the White House, describing the project as a “work of art” amid criticism over its cost, alterations to the historic grounds and the broader scale of construction being undertaken at the presidential residence.
In a social media post on Monday, Trump said the new landing zone was made from carved black and white granite and had been completed “ahead of schedule” and under budget. He said the project was designed to accommodate the newer generation of Marine One helicopters while improving the appearance and durability of the grounds.
“It is truly a work of art,” Trump said, adding that the granite is rated to withstand approximately 35,000 pounds per square inch and claiming it could last for more than a million years. He also said asphalt around the main entrance had been replaced with high-grade white granite as part of the works.
The White House has previously published photographs showing Trump inspecting the helipad while it was under construction on August 19.
The project is partly intended to address a practical problem associated with the VH-92A presidential helicopter fleet. The newer helicopters produce exhaust capable of scorching or damaging the South Lawn, an issue that had been under consideration across multiple administrations. Trump said the permanent landing area would eliminate the problem.
However, questions have been raised over exactly how much the wider project costs and who is paying for it. Trump said in July that helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, would pay roughly $5 million to $6 million for the helipad. Reuters reported that Trump said the company was funding the landing pad because of the problems associated with its helicopters.
The Washington Post, citing contracting records, subsequently reported that the broader project involving the helipad, South Portico and adjoining driveway was valued at about $13 million. According to the newspaper, accelerating construction ahead of an anticipated September visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping added about $875,000, with crews scheduled to work around the clock. Lockheed Martin said it had donated $5 million specifically toward the helipad.
The construction also encountered a significant setback. The Washington Post reported in August that contractors dismantled weeks of work, including part of a roughly 100-foot-wide granite presidential seal, after Trump objected to the slope and appearance of the landing zone. Trump later acknowledged that the original work had been redone because the site was considered too steep.
Criticism has focused particularly on altering the appearance of the historic South Lawn. Former White House chief usher Gary Walters’ successor in that role, Stephen Rochon? More directly, former White House chief usher and executive residence official Worthington White House expert L’Heureux told The Washington Post that installing a permanent helipad would be “stupid from an aesthetic standpoint,” arguing that the historic lawn should not be changed when alternatives, including temporary landing surfaces, could be considered.
Democratic lawmakers and preservation advocates have also questioned the project and Trump’s wider program of changes to the White House complex, including concerns over spending, historic preservation and whether major alterations should go through established public review processes. Some Republican allies, meanwhile, have argued that the president should devote less attention to construction projects and more to policy priorities ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, according to The Washington Post.
The helipad forms part of a much wider transformation Trump has pursued at the White House, alongside changes to the Rose Garden, interior spaces and the controversial construction of a large ballroom complex. Critics have argued that the projects are substantially reshaping one of America’s most historically significant government properties, while Trump has defended the changes as improvements to the building and its infrastructure.
Celebrating completion of the landing zone, Trump said it was an honour to restore what he described as the White House’s “Beauty and Magnificence,” declaring: “Now, it is a Palace!”
The new helipad is also expected to be showcased during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s scheduled September 24 visit, with Trump previously saying he wanted the project completed before Xi’s arrival.
