Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that the circular construction on the South Lawn of the White House will be a helipad for Marine One.
“Now we’re building a helipad, a beautiful helipad,” Trump told reporters. He said Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky will pay the $5 million-$6 million cost and that the new Sikorsky Marine One helicopters ruin the grass; he added the helipad "has got the seal of the White House, an eagle, and it's carved out of granite."
A number of Trump’s projects face legal challenges, including the new White House ballroom as well as his plans to transform East Potomac Park’s public golf course into championship links.
The East Wing was demolished to make way for a new ballroom, the Rose Garden lawn was paved over for patio tables and seating, and the West Wing colonnade was replaced with black granite.
The South Lawn for months was transformed into an arena with a giant overhang, known as "The Claw," for UFC’s championship event on June 14.