The Construction Began After the Removal of a Temporary Arch Used for a June 14 MMA Tournament

President Donald Trump has ordered workers to tear down and rebuild a newly completed granite helicopter pad on the South Lawn of the White House, dissatisfied with the platform's slope, according to the Washington Post. The construction began after the removal of a temporary arch used for a June 14 MMA tournament. The White House said the pad was necessary because newer Marine One VH-92 Patriot helicopters, used since the last year of Joe Biden's presidency, damage the lawn with their downward-angled exhaust.

The project, funded by Lockheed Martin and costing over $5 million, includes a giant presidential seal in granite. Spokesman Davis Ingle said the White House had a "crying need" for a proper heliport to protect the lawn. However, Trump, after inspecting the finished work, ordered a complete rebuild due to the excessive incline, which sources said was an aesthetic demand rather than a safety issue, as a few degrees of slope pose no problem under U.S. heliport standards.

The extra cost is undisclosed, and completion is expected before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit in September. Ingle added that the White House has "never been so beautiful" under Trump. Renovations continue on the ballroom off the East Wing, and the reflecting pool near the Lincoln Memorial was drained after its new lining deteriorated; Trump blamed political opponents, but the administration dropped vandalism charges against a cyclist, implicitly conceding a construction flaw.