Latest News
- U.S. citizen Reza Valizadeh updates on conditions in Iran’s Evin Prison
- Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be mutating as cases rise
- Belarus declares Euronews “extremist” in response to critical reporting
- Redistricting influences Tennessee’s primary election outcomes
- Researchers confirm tornado occurred in Repentigny, Quebec on August 2
- Appeals court rules Trump cannot build White House ballroom without Congress approval
- Mother loses son to asbestos-related cancer at 20 after misdiagnosis
- Pregnant shopkeeper assaulted and robbed by men posing as customers in Argentina
LIVE German 2025 Election Results as they come in and analysi on who will be the next German Chancellor.
Knowledge Hub
Global Reaction to DE Elections
U.S. citizen Reza Valizadeh updates on conditions in Iran’s Evin Prison
10:00 pm
Get you up to speed: From inside Iran’s Evin Prison, U.S. citizen Reza Valizadeh gives update on conditions, fears exposure to disease
Reza Valizadeh, a U.S. citizen and journalist, provided an update on his condition from inside Evin Prison in Iran, where he is one of five U.S. citizens detained. Kamran Hekmati, another American prisoner also at Evin, was ordered back to prison after a brief medical leave for cancer treatment.
Prison conditions at Evin Prison reportedly include a lack of medical care, with many diseases returning, including tuberculosis, and prisoners only receiving basic medications. Kamran Hekmati has been ordered back to prison after a brief medical leave, despite needing chemotherapy for cancer, as the State Department considers him and Reza Valizadeh to be wrongfully detained.
US officials continue to monitor the cases of Reza Valizadeh and Kamran Hekmati, with a statement from the Trump administration indicating they are “working diligently” to secure their release. Valizadeh’s attorney, Ryan Fayhee, has urged President Trump to prioritise the release of “wrongfully detained Americans” in negotiations with Iran.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how many other American citizens are currently imprisoned in Iran beyond those mentioned.
U.S. citizen Reza Valizadeh updates on conditions in Iran’s Evin Prison
This week, WTX US News received another recording from inside the notorious Evin Prison in Iran with an update from U.S. citizen and journalist Reza Valizadeh.
He last reached out in June, and he wants his most recent statement to be made public, as well, according to his attorney Ryan Fayhee.
Valizadeh is one of the five U.S. citizens still trapped in Iran, two of them at Evin. Three others are believed to be under exit bans, which means Iranian authorities are preventing them from leaving the country.
In this latest recording obtained by WTX US News, Valizadeh shared updates about his condition and that of fellow American Kamran Hekmati, who was just ordered back to prison after having been granted medical leave that lasted under 30 days.
Foley Foundation 
Hekmati attempted to get medical care for what is believed to be a recurring cancer, according to his U.S.-based advocate, Kieran Ramsey, of Global Reach. He was unable to obtain chemotherapy treatment, however. Hekmati is a Jewish Iranian-American from New York, and about to turn 62 next week. He was arrested after the 12-day Israel-Iran war in 2025 on charges related to past travel to Israel. The State Department considers both Hekmati and Valizadeh to be wrongfully detained.
Valizadeh is a dual Iranian American citizen who used to work for Radio Free Europe’s Persian language service and has been imprisoned in Iran since 2024. He said that for the past five months, the Iranian authorities haven’t allowed his family to visit, which he believes is punishment.
Courtesy of Valizadeh Family 
He said he is also worried about exposure to a fellow prisoner who was suffering symptoms of tuberculosis, like coughing up blood, and says for more than a year now the prisoners have had little to no medical care. WTX US News shared the remarks with the Iranian mission based at the United Nations, and was told it had no comment.
Valizadeh’s lawyer, Ryan Fayhee, said in a statement that it is essential that President Trump prioritize the release of wrongfully detained Americans in his negotiations with Iran.
The Trump administration has never publicly confirmed that it has raised the specific cases of the American detainees in Iran during past months of negotiations.
In June, a Trump administration official told WTX US News in a statement that the administration is closely tracking Valizadeh’s case, along with the other U.S. citizens currently detained in Iran, and is “working diligently” to secure their release.
It is risky for Valizadeh to release this message, but he’s desperate.
Here is a transcript of the part of Valizadeh’s voice memo from inside Evin Prison that WTX US News received this week and that has been cleared for release by his attorney and advocate:
We, the prisoners of Evin Prison, have been denied access to the prison library and sport facilities for more than a year. Medical care in the prison is almost non-existent. Only the most basic medications are available.
Even worse, many medicines purchased and delivered by prisoners’ families are stolen by prison staff before reaching the prisoners. The prison’s doctors are rude, unmotivated and lack professional competence. As a result, most prisoners avoid seeking medical treatment unless they have no other choice.
Diseases that were eradicated decades ago have returned inside the prison, including pulmonary and gastrointestinal tuberculosis. One prisoner suffered TB symptoms, including coughing up blood and severe weight loss for six months. He was sent to a hospital outside the prison only when his condition became life-threatening. Before that, he had lived in close quarters with other prisoners for about 10 months. No one knows how many inmates may have been exposed to or infected with tuberculosis.
On the other hand, because of the poor quality of prison food, most prisoners refuse to eat the meals provided by the prison. Recently, authorities have started transferring non-political prisoners, mainly those convicted of financial crimes, from other prisons into our ward. This appears to be an attempt to weaken the unity of political prisoners and change the composition of our ward. Our ward already lacks the space and facilities to accommodate more prisoners.
Whenever prisoners raise even minor protests about prison conditions, they are punished by losing family visits and phone calls.
For example, I have not been allowed to see my family for the past five months. Part of this has been imposed as punishment, while the rest has been justified by the authorities due to the wartime situation…. Regarding other American citizens imprisoned in Evin, my knowledge is limited to Kamran Hekmati. Based on what I know, there are no other U.S. citizens in my ward, and they are most likely being held in another prison.
Kamran Hekmati, an Iranian American prisoner, was guaranteed medical leave for cancer treatment. However, after only one month and before the end of his approved 45-day medical furlough, he was ordered back to prison. This happened, even though his leave should have been extended so he could begin chemotherapy.
Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be mutating as cases rise
9:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Deadly Ebola virus could be mutating after thousands of cases | News World
The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing a significant outbreak of the Bundibugyo variant of Ebola, with over 1,800 deaths and more than 4,000 cases reported as of August 5. Health officials are concerned about potential mutations of the virus and are implementing measures to increase testing and tracing in affected areas, particularly in the city of Ituri.
Health officials have initiated plans for active case search from homes in the DRC to enhance detection amid concerns of potential virus mutation. As of mid-May, the Bundibugyo variant outbreak has resulted in over 1,800 deaths, with ongoing challenges in contact tracing that typically identifies only 10 contacts per patient instead of the expected 40.
Health officials are urging a ramped-up response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid concerns of potential virus mutation. Dr Jean Kaseya of the Africa CDC confirmed plans for active case searches from door to door, citing inadequate contact tracing currently in place.
What remains unclear — Health officials have not confirmed whether the Bundibugyo variant of Ebola is mutating amidst the outbreak.
Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be mutating as cases rise
Fear is growing that the devastating Ebola outbreak could be mutating as cases surge.
The outbreak has been ripping through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for months, leading to a desperate fight against the infection with an extremely high mortality rate.
Over 1,800 people have died in the latest outbreak, and more than 4,000 cases have been logged as of August 5, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.
Now health officials on the continent have raised the alarm over the virus’s possible mutation, and called for a ramped-up response.
Passengers disembarking from boats were tested for Ebola in Kinshasa after one person was suspected of having the infection yesterday (Picture: Reuters)
This could see possible cases being searched from door to door, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
The latest spread, caused by the Bundibugyo variant of Ebola, was declared an outbreak in mid-May, but it may have been looming around since January.
With the majority of deaths in the city of Ituri occuring outside of medical facilities, officials suspect a large number of transmissions are untracked.
Plans for active case search from homes
Red Cross workers disinfected the hospital grounds in Rwampara near Bunia in the Ituri province, which is one of the Ebola hotspot areas (Picture: Reuters)
Dr Jean Kaseya, the director general of the Africa CDC, said yesterday that plans were discussed for studies to check ‘if there is no additional issue, or maybe if the virus is not mutating.’
‘Because the level of severity of this Bundibugyo outbreak is unprecedented,’ he said.
Dr Kaseya admitted that contact tracing in the country was insufficient as only around 10 contacts were identified for every Ebola patient. Usually the expected number is around 40.
Plans are being drafted to send health workiers from door to door as part of the ramped-up efforts that will see a shift from ‘contact tracing to active case search, Africa CDC’s Dr Wessam Mankoula said.
While there is no vaccine yet against the infection caused by the Bundibugyo strain, experts are hopeful a different jab against Ebola could lessen the disease and curb deaths after positive data.
Health workers protested over unpaid wages at the governor’s office in Ituri city yesterday (Picture: AP Photo/Constant Same Bagalwa)
Northwestern provinces and districts of DRC near the border with Uganda have become hotspots during the outbreak. Efforts to tackle the outbreak have been complicated by ongoing internal conflict and fighting along with a high number of displaced people.
Uganda has recorded 20 cases and two confirmed deaths linked to the outbreak before the spread was brought under control.
France saw its first-ever confirmed Ebola case after a doctor returning from a humanitarian mission in the DRC was admitted to a specialist facility in June.
The UK has not recorded any cases of the disease during the latest outbreak, but previously in 2015 a case was clocked in Britain linked to the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak.
What is Ebola?
The disease, caused by the Ebola virus, sometimes known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe and often fatal illness that can affect humans and primates.
It is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
The average fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.
Ebola spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact such as through broken skin or mucous membranes.
A person infected with Ebola cannot spread it until they develop symptoms.
Comment now
Comments
Add WTX as a Preferred Source on Google
Belarus declares Euronews “extremist” in response to critical reporting
8:00 pm
Belarus declares EU News “extremist” in response to critical reporting
New classification
Belarus has placed EU News’ website on its “Republican List of Extremist Materials,” restricting access and imposing penalties for storing or sharing its content.
Belarus has placed EU News’ website on its “Republican List of Extremist Materials,” restricting access and imposing penalties for storing or sharing its content.
Access Restrictions
The designation of EU News as “extremist” restricts access to its website in Belarus, enabling potential administrative penalties for users engaged in distributing independent news content.
The designation of EU News as “extremist” restricts access to its website in Belarus, enabling potential administrative penalties for users engaged in distributing independent news content.
Critical Response
“EU News can take this designation as a badge of honour; it means your work matters,” said opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya regarding Belarus’ classification of the outlet as “extremist.”
“EU News can take this designation as a badge of honour; it means your work matters,” said opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya regarding Belarus’ classification of the outlet as “extremist.”
Exclusive: EU News ‘extremist’ label is Lukashenka’s revenge, Tsikhanouskaya said
Belarus’ decision to classify EU News as “extremist” is an act of revenge for its reporting on the country’s disputed 2020 election, political prisoners and Russia’s war against Ukraine, opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said on Friday.
In an exclusive interview with EU News, Tsikhanouskaya said the move showed that Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s government remained afraid of independent information six years after the mass protests that followed the presidential election.
“It is revenge – revenge by the regime for EU News’ reporting,” she said.
“EU News covered the 2020 protests, it covered the election, which Lukashenka lost. It covered the stories of political prisoners and the war, which started from Belarus.”
Belarusian information ministry placed EU News’ website on its “Republican List of Extremist Materials,” according to Belarus-based media. The ruling is subject to immediate execution under Belarusian civil procedure rules.
The decision means access to the EU News website will now be restricted in Belarus, while readers could face administrative penalties for storing or distributing its content.
EU News’ television broadcast was already banned in Belarus in 2021.
Tsikhanouskaya noted called the decisions “hypocritical” given that Lukashenka himself gave an interview to EU News before.
“Now even watching them can be considered a crime in Belarus”.
She warned that the designation could turn viewing and sharing independent news into a pretext for repression.
“Watching EU News or reading the EU News website can land you in jail. Sharing EU News news can become a crime.”
The ruling gave the regime and its law enforcement agency KGB “another excuse to prosecute people who are simply looking for information”, Tsikhanouskaya said, adding that journalists, contributors and those assisting news organisations could also be at risk.
Her comments come ahead of the sixth anniversary of the August 2020 election, which was followed by an unprecedented wave of peaceful demonstrations against Lukashenka’s declared victory.
The opposition, the EU and many western governments rejected the result as fraudulent.
The authorities responded with a sweeping crackdown on protesters, activists, independent media and civil society.
Tsikhanouskaya said repression had become the operating principle of the state because the government feared that a relaxation could trigger another public uprising.
“If it stops, people will rise up again,” she said. “Constant, systemic repression has become the modus operandi of the entire system.”
She added that arrests continued daily and that the true scale of the crackdown remained unclear because many detainees were not publicly identified.
“Under such terror, visible protest is almost impossible. It has gone underground,” she said. “But I know that people haven’t given up. They are waiting and preparing for new momentum.”
The opposition leader, who lives in exile, argued that control of information was central to the government’s survival. Millions of Belarusians still follow independent outlets covertly, she said, using virtual private networks and other tools to bypass censorship.
“Independent media are the backbone of our movement,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
She stated that independent reporting had helped ensure that many Belarusians understood the reality of Russia’s war in Ukraine, despite official propaganda, and that most supported Ukraine.
But she warned that the state was adapting as quickly as citizens. “The KGB often uses tech platforms to track, identify, and prosecute opponents,” she said, adding that her team was working with companies including Meta and Alphabet to ensure their platforms were not used to facilitate persecution.
Tsikhanouskaya advised people in Belarus to make digital security a priority, including by using VPNs, keeping separate devices for accessing independent media and avoiding contact with unknown accounts that could be linked to security services.
She said Belarusians were also advised to regularly clear their phones, use pseudonyms online and avoid responding to unknown contacts, which could be attempts by the KGB to recruit or blackmail them. Some independent outlets use accounts that are not branded as “extremist”, she said, allowing audiences to continue accessing information under difficult conditions.
“Difficult conditions force us to be creative,” she said. “That is the only way to survive under a dictatorship.”
She said the “extremist” designation should not deter EU News from continuing its work.
“EU News can take this designation as a badge of honour,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
“Many decent people and organisations have been declared ‘extremist’ by the dictator. It means your work matters.”
Despite the crackdown, she urged Belarusians not to see the democratic movement as defeated.
“Our struggle has not ended. It has simply taken a different form,” she said. “It is no longer a sprint, but a marathon.”
Tsikhanouskaya said a strong Ukraine and a weakened Russia could create an opening for democratic change in Belarus, arguing that Lukashenka’s government depended on the Kremlin’s support.
“Without Russian support, Lukashenka’s regime will not survive,” she said. “That is why so many Belarusians hope for Ukraine’s victory.”
Tsikhanouskaya urged western partners to see Belarus “not only as a problem, but also as an opportunity”, arguing that democratic forces must be ready to seize any opening created by a shift in the regional balance of power.
“Dictatorships often collapse when no one expects it,” she said.
Belarusians wanted peaceful change through free elections, without violence, and a future in Europe rather than under Russian control, she said.
“A free, democratic and independent Belarus would make Europe much safer for everyone.”
Redistricting influences Tennessee’s primary election outcomes
7:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Inside the results: How redistricting shaped Tennessee’s primary election
Tennessee’s party primaries resulted in the defeat of incumbent Representative Andy Ogles by former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher in District 5 on 7 August 2026. The redistricting for the congressional map was implemented earlier in May, reshaping key districts ahead of the midterm elections.
Tennessee’s congressional district map was redrawn in May, impacting the structure of the elections and causing shifts in multiple districts, particularly District 9. Approximately 71 per cent of voters in the newly configured District 9 are new to the area, heightening the stakes for both parties in the upcoming midterms.
Following the recent primaries, Tennessee Republicans are positioned to maintain their dominance, with Senator Marsha Blackburn winning the gubernatorial nomination and Trump-backed candidates securing key victories. Democratic nominee Justin Pearson condemned the redistricting efforts, highlighting a need for ongoing advocacy for minority representation ahead of the November elections, where he will face Brent Taylor in a newly configured District 9.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how the new District 9’s Republican tilt will affect voter turnout and election outcomes in the upcoming midterms.
Redistricting influences Tennessee’s primary election outcomes
News|US Midterm Elections 2026Inside the results: How redistricting shaped Tennessee’s primary election
Tennessee’s party primaries saw incumbent Representative Andy Ogles ousted and set up a heated race for District 9.
Published On 7 Aug 20267 Aug 2026
Published On 7 Aug 20267 Aug 2026Thursday’s primary in the southern state of Tennessee has provided the first test of the state’s new congressional district map, redrawn in May.
Tennessee was one of roughly 10 states to reconfigure its map since 2025, as part of a partisan push to gain an advantage in the 2026 United States midterm election.
The election is seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s second term in office, and the Republican leader has cheered redistricting efforts in right-leaning states like Tennessee, as part of a broader national plan to maintain his party’s control of Congress.
Each district on a congressional map translates to one seat in the House of Representatives, and how a district is drawn can affect who is ultimately elected. With Republicans holding a slim majority in the House, the chamber is considered vulnerable to flip to Democratic control.
Tennessee’s redistricting effort came after the US Supreme Court weakened protections for minority voters under the federal Voting Rights Act in April.
That allowed Republican lawmakers to redraw their congressional map in a way that broke apart the state’s one majority-Black district in Memphis, long considered a Democratic stronghold.
Republicans already hold eight of the state’s nine congressional seats. They will be going for a clean sweep of all the districts in November. Thursday’s primaries have set the stage for those midterm showdowns by finalising the Democratic and Republican nominees for November’s ballot.
Here are the key takeaways from Thursday’s primaries:
Governor’s race: Blackburn wins Republican nomination
Senator Marsha Blackburn has defeated US Representative John Rose to clinch the Republican nomination for the governor’s office.
Blackburn is racing to succeed Governor Bill Lee, who is barred by term limits from seeking re-election. In November, she will face Memphis City Council member Jerri Green, who won Thursday’s Democratic primary.
Blackburn enters the general election with a significant partisan advantage in a state that has become one of the Republican Party’s most consistent strongholds. Republicans have held the governor’s office since 2011 and won every US Senate election in the state since 1994.
If elected, Blackburn would become Tennessee’s first female governor.
US House District 5: Trump-backed incumbent ousted
One of the biggest upsets of the night came in District 5, a sprawling area that includes rural areas as well as part of Nashville.
In the Republican primary, former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated US Representative Andy Ogles, a Trump-endorsed incumbent.
Ogles has represented Tennessee’s 5th District since 2023. But he has courted condemnation from across the political spectrum for his comments against the Muslim community, which have been denounced as discriminatory.
In a March social media post, for instance, Ogles wrote, “Muslims don’t belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie.”
Ogles is the second Trump-endorsed candidate to lose a primary this week.
Hatcher, a fifth-generation Tennessee dairy farmer, has publicly expressed his support for Trump, even without the president’s endorsement. Hatcher will now face Democrat Chaz Molder in November.
US House District 6: Garrett wins Republican primary for open seat
No incumbent competed on Thursday night for House District 6, an area which stretches from Nashville to Tennessee’s northern border with Kentucky.
That’s because Representative Rose opted not to seek re-election and instead ran for governor, a bid he lost to Senator Blackburn.
The open House seat created a contentious primary for the Republican-leaning district. But State Representative Johnny Garrett emerged the victor in the Republican primary, defeating Rose’s recent chief of staff, Van Hilleary.
In November’s midterms, Garrett will face Navy veteran Mike Croley, who won a five-way Democratic primary.
US House District 9: Memphis Democratic stronghold could flip
Much of the focus of May’s redistricting effort fell on House District 9, which was previously centred on the Democratic stronghold of Memphis.
It was the one majority-Black district formerly on Tennessee’s congressional map. But it was cracked apart by Republicans this year, causing a ripple of changes that also reconfigured District 5, where Representative Ogles faced defeat.
The new District 9 stretches about 320 kilometres, or 200 miles, east from Memphis across rural areas before reaching north towards Nashville.
It now tilts Republican, with 71 percent of voters new to the district, according to an estimate from The Associated Press.
Thursday’s primaries set the battle lines for what is expected to be a hotly contested midterm race.
Trump-backed candidate Brent Taylor, a state senator, earned the Republican nomination. He will face Thursday’s Democratic victor, Justin Pearson, who gained national prominence in 2023 when he was expelled from the Tennessee House for protesting in support of gun control measures, only to be re-elected by voters.
In a victory speech, Pearson told his supporters that Thursday’s primary marked 61 years since the Voting Rights Act was signed. He reflected on how the Supreme Court’s decision had eroded protections for Black and minority voters, and slammed the redistricting effort.
“It’s a blatant attempt to keep people like us out of power and an attempt to make us quit. But tonight, we’re one step closer to Washington, DC,” he said.
US Senate: Incumbent Hagerty advances
Incumbent Senator Bill Hagerty won the Republican primary without opposition and will face Democratic candidate Marquita Bradshaw, an environmental and human rights activist.
Hagerty, first elected in 2020, remains heavily favoured in the Republican-leaning state.
Researchers confirm tornado occurred in Repentigny, Quebec on August 2
6:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Researchers confirm a tornado touched down in Repentigny, Que. on Aug. 2
Researchers confirmed that a tornado caused damage to trees and buildings in a suburb north of Montreal on Sunday. The immediate situation involves destruction in the affected area, but casualty figures have not been confirmed.
The tornado occurred in a suburb north of Montreal on Sunday, with researchers confirming its impact on local infrastructure. Investigators are currently assessing the full extent of the damage to both trees and buildings in the affected area.
Officials have confirmed that the storm in the suburb north of Montreal was a tornado, prompting local authorities to assess the damage and deploy emergency responders. Residents have been urged to remain cautious as cleanup efforts continue, and a community meeting is planned for Wednesday to discuss recovery plans and safety measures.
What remains unclear — The extent of the damage caused by the tornado has not been fully assessed.
Researchers confirm tornado occurred in Repentigny, Quebec on August 2
Researchers have confirmed that a storm that damaged trees and buildings in a suburb north of Montreal on Sunday was in fact a tornado.
Appeals court rules Trump cannot build White House ballroom without Congress approval
4:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Appeals court says Trump lacks authority to build White House ballroom without approval from Congress
A federal appeals court ruled that the Trump White House lacks the authority to unilaterally construct a new ballroom in Washington, D.C., requiring congressional approval for the $400 million project. The court found that the White House “very likely” does not have the authority to demolish and rebuild the East Wing, and that Congress has “full constitutional control over federal property.”
The judges have stayed their decision for 14 days, allowing the government to potentially appeal to the full appeals court or directly to the Supreme Court. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued last year, arguing that the project failed to comply with federal guidelines and raised concerns over the funding mechanism, which the administration claims is largely sourced from private donations.
A federal appeals court has ruled that the Trump administration needs congressional approval for the proposed $400 million ballroom project at the White House, stating that the President cannot unilaterally make such decisions regarding federal property. The judges have given the government 14 days to consider an appeal, while the National Trust for Historic Preservation continues to challenge the project’s legality.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain whether the Trump administration will seek further legal recourse after the federal appellate panel’s decision.
Appeals court rules Trump cannot build White House ballroom without Congress approval
Washington — A federal appeals court on Friday said the Trump White House lacks the authority to unilaterally construct a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom where the East Wing once stood, finding that the $400 million project requires congressional approval.
In a 2-1 decision, a federal appellate panel in D.C. sided with a lower court in ruling that the White House “very likely” lacked authority to demolish and rebuild the East Wing. The judges said Congress has “full constitutional control over federal property and the funding of its maintenance and development,” and noted an “absence of any express or implied authorization” that grants President Trump the ability to construct the ballroom.
“Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its Executive Residence. The President has no — and claims no — constitutionally assigned authority over that property, which is designed and maintained for the use of all Presidents, current and future, and for the American people,” the judges wrote in their opinion.
“We are aware of no instance in American history in which a President unilaterally and using privately collected funds demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized to be built and American taxpayers paid for,” the judges said. “Until now.”
Kevin Carter / Getty Images 
Judges Patricia Millett and Bradley Garcia wrote the majority opinion. Judge Neomi Rao, who was nominated to the federal bench by Mr. Trump, dissented. Millett and Garcia were nominated by Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, respectively.
The judges stayed their decision for 14 days to give the government the chance to appeal. The Justice Department could ask the full appeals court to hear the case or appeal to the Supreme Court directly.
“This holding has nothing at all to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable, or not, as a matter of policy,” the majority wrote. “This ruling does not even necessarily mean that the Defendants may not ultimately construct the ballroom. What it does mean is that the Defendants may not do so during the district court’s expeditious litigation without securing Congress’s authorization, as the Constitution and laws require.”
In her dissent, Rao wrote that the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued in lower court to block Mr. Trump’s project, did not have proper legal standing to bring the lawsuit. Rao accused the lower court judge that initially blocked the construction, and her colleagues, of “judicial overreach.”
The White House and Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The legal battle over the ballroom
In March, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that a legal challenge brought by a preservation group that sued to block Mr. Trump’s construction project was likely to succeed on the merits, because “no statute” that the government used to justify the construction “comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.” Mr. Trump tore down the East Wing last October and began construction without congressional approval.
The administration contended in court filings that a statute permitting the White House to perform routine maintenance and repairs to the executive mansion provides a legal justification for the project. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also argued in court filings that the panel should order the resumption of construction because the recent attempted attack at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in April underscored the need for a secure ballroom on White House grounds.
After the Trump administration appealed the initial ruling, the appellate judges ordered Leon to reconsider the possible national security implications of halting the construction. Weeks later, he amended his ruling, finding that above-ground work on the East Wing must stop, but underground construction on a presidential bunker could continue.
In April, the panel granted an administrative stay sought by the Justice Department that allowed all White House ballroom construction to continue while the court considered briefs and heard arguments last month.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the U.S. sued the administration late last year for allegedly failing to adhere to federal guidelines prior to demolishing the East Wing and breaking ground on a ballroom. The Trust also questioned the $400 million project’s funding mechanism, which the president claims is largely from private donations.
The ballroom project came together quickly after Mr. Trump announced it last summer. A panel of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, filled with the president’s allies, voted unanimously to approve the ballroom proposal in February. The National Park Service has said construction could wrap up by mid-2028.
The project has drawn scrutiny from congressional Democrats and preservation groups who argue that the Trump administration was making major changes to the White House without enough public input. The administration has defended the project, casting it as a useful addition to the complex and part of a long line of alterations to the White House.
Local insights
Related Election News
© 2026 WTX News.