Trump begins construction of permanent White House helipad funded by Lockheed Martin
President Trump has started building a permanent helipad on the White House South Lawn without public notice, reportedly to prevent damage from new Sikorsky VH-92A Marine One helicopters whose exhaust burns the grass. Lockheed Martin is donating $5–6 million for the project. Previous administrations avoided a permanent helipad due to historical preservation concerns. This is part of a series of controversial second-term White House renovations, including a ballroom and Rose Garden paving, drawing criticism for lack of transparency and disregard for tradition.
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Trump Continues White House Renovations Without Congressional Approval, Costs Escalate
President Donald Trump is undertaking new renovations at the White House, including security upgrades to the North Portico columns and front doors, without Congressional approval, according to a report from The New Republic. This follows recent construction of a helipad on the South Lawn and renovations to the South Portico and driveway. The White House demanded the helipad contractor accelerate the timeline by mid-September for an upcoming state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, adding $875,000 to the $13 million cost. Trump claimed Sikorsky would cover the helipad cost, but taxpayers are expected to fund other projects. The article highlights a pattern of cost overruns, citing a ballroom project that escalated from $200 million to $600 million, with taxpayers responsible for half. Critics accuse Trump of treating the White House like a personal resort property.
The New RepublicTrump Continues White House Renovations Without Congressional Approval, Costs Escalate
President Donald Trump is undertaking new renovations on the White House's North Portico, including security improvements and column repairs, without congressional approval as required by law. This follows recent construction of a helipad on the South Lawn and renovations to the South Portico and driveway. The White House demanded the helipad contractor speed up completion by mid-September for an upcoming state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, adding $875,000 to the $13 million cost. Trump claimed Sikorsky would cover the helipad cost, but taxpayers are expected to fund other projects. The article highlights a pattern of cost overruns, noting the ballroom project originally estimated at $200 million has ballooned to $600 million, with taxpayers responsible for half. The piece criticizes the administration's approach and raises concerns about construction quality, citing a toxic Reflecting Pool and crumbling Fourth of July venue.
The New RepublicWhite House to Get $6 Million Lockheed-Funded Granite Helipad to Protect South Lawn
President Donald Trump announced that a permanent granite helipad is being installed on the White House South Lawn, funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, at a cost of $5-6 million. The helipad will support the new VH-92A Patriot Marine One helicopters, which Trump said are 2.5 times more powerful than older models and can rip out grass upon landing. Trump stated Sikorsky is paying because they underestimated the helicopters' power and felt guilty. A Lockheed Martin spokesperson confirmed the contribution to the National Park Service. The helipad will feature the White House seal. Construction is already visible in recent photos. The practice of using the South Lawn for helicopter landings dates back to the Eisenhower administration, previously using temporary landing plates.
All Content from Business InsiderTrump Builds New Helipad at White House, Funded by Lockheed Martin Subsidiary
US President Donald Trump announced the construction of a new helipad on the South Lawn of the White House, with work already underway. The $6 million project is privately funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of defense contractor Lockheed Martin, through a donation to the Trust for the National Mall. Trump described the helipad as 'really beautiful,' featuring the White House seal engraved in granite. The upgrade is needed to accommodate the new Sikorsky VH-92A Patriot helicopters, which are more powerful than their Vietnam War-era predecessors and would damage the lawn. The article also notes Trump's controversial plans for a new, bulletproof ballroom at the White House, which has faced court challenges and cost disputes.
Nachrichten - WELTVH-92 Patriot Getting Granite White House Helipad Will Finally Allow VH-3D Sea King To Retire
President Donald Trump announced that a granite helipad will be built on the White House South Lawn to accommodate the new VH-92A Patriot helicopter, which is more powerful than its predecessors and had been damaging the grass with exhaust heat and rotor wash. The helipad, costing an estimated $5-6 million, will be paid for by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary. The construction is already underway. The new helipad will allow the retirement of the aging VH-3D Sea King helicopters, which have served as Marine One for decades. Trump noted that the VH-92A is about 2.5 times more powerful than older models, and that the grass damage was a planning oversight. The VH-60N will continue in service through at least 2030 for hot/high-altitude operations. The helipad will feature the White House seal carved in granite.
TWZVH-92 Patriot Getting Granite White House Helipad Will Finally Allow VH-3D Sea King To Retire
President Donald Trump announced that a granite helipad will be built on the White House South Lawn to accommodate the new VH-92A Patriot helicopter, which generates intense exhaust heat and rotor wash that damages the grass. The helipad, costing an estimated $5-6 million, will be paid for by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, as compensation for not disclosing the helicopter's power. The project will allow the retirement of the aging VH-3D Sea King helicopters, which have been used for Marine One missions for decades. Construction is already underway, with the helipad featuring the White House seal carved in granite. The VH-60Ns will continue flying through at least 2030 for high-altitude operations. Trump framed the project as a symbol of modernization and efficiency.
TWZVH-92 Patriot to Use New Granite Helipad at White House, Enabling VH-3D Sea King Retirement
The VH-92 Patriot, the next-generation Marine One presidential helicopter, will soon operate from a new granite helipad at the White House, ending decades of landings on the lawn. According to a report from The War Zone, former President Trump stated that the helipad's construction costs are being covered by the helicopter's manufacturer, Sikorsky (a Lockheed Martin subsidiary). The new helipad will allow the long-serving VH-3D Sea King helicopters to finally be retired after many decades of service. This development marks a significant infrastructure upgrade for presidential transport and resolves logistical issues related to operating the heavier VH-92 on the South Lawn's grass.
TWZMarine One Helipad to Be Built on White House Lawn, Trump Says
President Donald Trump confirmed that a granite helipad is being constructed on the White House South Lawn to accommodate the newer VH-92A Patriot Marine One helicopters. The roughly $5 million helipad will be paid for by Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, after Trump claimed the company failed to disclose that the helicopters' exhaust vents scorch the grass upon landing. Previously, Marines used metal plates to protect the lawn, but pilots sometimes missed the mark. Trump said the idea for a permanent helipad came from his suggestion to Air Force generals. Construction began in early July 2026 and is scheduled for completion by September 17, a week before Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned White House visit. The helipad will feature the White House seal and is intended to help retire older Marine One aircraft like the VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk.
Marine Corps TimesMarine One Helipad to Be Built on White House Lawn, Trump Says
President Donald Trump confirmed that a granite helipad is being constructed on the White House South Lawn to accommodate the newer VH-92A Patriot Marine One helicopters. The roughly $5 million helipad, featuring the White House seal, is being paid for by Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, because the new helicopters' exhaust vents scorch the grass upon landing. Trump stated that Sikorsky felt guilty for not disclosing the helicopters' power. Previously, Marines used metal plates to protect the lawn, but pilots sometimes missed the mark. Construction began last week and is slated for completion by September 17, a week before Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled White House visit. The helipad is also intended to help retire older Marine One models like the VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk.
Military TimesMarine One helipad to be built on White House lawn, Trump says
President Donald Trump confirmed that a granite helipad is being constructed on the White House South Lawn to accommodate the newer VH-92A Patriot Marine One helicopters. The roughly $5 million helipad is being paid for by Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, because the company's VH-92A helicopters have exhaust vents that point downward and scorch the grass upon landing. Trump stated that Sikorsky felt 'a little bit guilty' for not disclosing the helicopters' power. Previously, Marines placed metal plates on the grass for landings, but pilots sometimes missed the mark, damaging the lawn. Construction began last week and is slated for completion by September 17, a week before Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled White House visit. The helipad will feature the White House seal and is intended to help retire older Marine One models like the VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk.
Military TimesMarine One Helipad to Be Built on White House Lawn, Trump Says
President Donald Trump confirmed that a granite helipad is being constructed on the White House South Lawn to accommodate the newer VH-92A Patriot Marine One helicopters. The roughly $5 million helipad, featuring the White House seal, is being paid for by Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary. Trump stated Sikorsky is funding it because they 'didn't tell us how powerful these helicopters were' and felt guilty. The VH-92A's exhaust vents point downward, scorching the grass upon landing. Previously, Marines used a metal plate to protect the lawn, but pilots sometimes missed the mark. Construction began last week, with completion scheduled for September 17, 2026, a week before Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned White House visit. The helipad is intended to help retire older Marine One models, the VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk, which have been in service since the late 1970s and 1980s respectively.
Military TimesMarine One Helipad to Be Built on White House Lawn, Trump Says
President Donald Trump confirmed that a granite helipad will be constructed on the White House South Lawn to accommodate the newer VH-92A Patriot Marine One helicopters, which scorch the grass due to downward exhaust vents. The approximately $5 million helipad will be paid for by Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary. Trump said Sikorsky felt 'a little bit guilty' for not disclosing the helicopters' heat output. Previously, Marines placed metal sheets on the grass. Construction began in early July 2026 and is slated for completion by September 17, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's White House visit. The helipad will feature the White House seal and is intended to facilitate retiring older Marine One models (VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk) still in service since the 1970s and 1980s.
Marine Corps TimesMarine One Helipad to Be Built on White House Lawn, Trump Says
President Donald Trump confirmed that a granite helipad is being constructed on the White House South Lawn to accommodate the newer VH-92A Patriot Marine One helicopters. The roughly $5 million helipad, paid for by Sikorsky Aircraft (a Lockheed Martin subsidiary), is needed because the new helicopters' exhaust vents scorch the grass upon landing. Trump stated Sikorsky is funding it because they 'didn't tell us how powerful these helicopters were.' Previously, Marines placed metal sheets on the grass, but pilots sometimes missed the mark. Construction began in early July 2026 and is slated for completion by September 17, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled White House visit. The helipad will feature the White House seal and is intended to help retire older Marine One models like the VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk.
Marine Corps TimesTrump Ramps Up White House Helipad Timeline and Cost Ahead of Xi Visit
President Donald Trump accelerated construction of a new White House South Lawn helipad, adding $875,000 to the $13 million project cost, according to Clark Construction records obtained by The Washington Post. The contractor received a last-minute demand to complete construction by September 17, anticipating a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24. The project includes renovating the South Portico and re-topping the driveway with white stone. Trump announced that Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, would cover $5-6 million for a helipad with a granite White House seal. The article notes this is part of a pattern of cost overruns, citing a previous White House ballroom project that ballooned from $200 million to $600 million, with taxpayers potentially responsible for half.
The New RepublicTrump Ramps Up White House Helipad Timeline and Cost Ahead of Xi Visit
President Donald Trump has accelerated construction of a new helipad on the White House South Lawn, adding $875,000 to the project's cost, according to Clark Construction records obtained by The Washington Post. The overall project, which includes renovating the South Portico and re-topping the driveway, already costs $13 million. The contractor received a last-minute demand to complete construction by September 17, anticipating a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24. This follows a pattern of cost overruns on Trump's White House renovations, including a ballroom project that ballooned from $200 million to $600 million, with taxpayers potentially covering half. Trump announced that Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, would cover $5-6 million for a helipad with a granite White House seal, but it remains unclear who will pay the remaining costs.
The New RepublicTrump Helipad Construction Accelerated, Cost Increases by $875,000
President Trump's administration accelerated construction of a new White House helipad on the South Lawn, adding $875,000 to the $13 million project, according to Clark Construction records obtained by The Washington Post. The rush was to complete the helipad by September 17 for an upcoming state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24. This is part of a series of expensive White House renovations, with a ballroom project originally claimed to cost $200 million ballooning to $600 million, half from taxpayers. Trump announced that Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, would cover $5-6 million for the helipad including a granite White House seal, but the source of remaining funds remains unclear. The article criticizes the spending as wasteful and potentially taxpayer-funded.
The New RepublicTrump: Sikorsky Paying $6M for New White House Helipad
President Trump announced on Monday that Sikorsky Aircraft, the manufacturer of the Marine One helicopters, will cover the cost of a new White House helipad. The president explained that the existing helipad needs replacement because the newer, more powerful Sikorsky helicopters damage the South Lawn grass during takeoff and landing. The cost of the project is $6 million, which will be fully paid for by Sikorsky rather than taxpayer funds.
Just In NewsWhite House Helipad Construction Reportedly Starts But Trump Remains Unusually Quiet on Plans
According to a Washington Post report, construction crews were observed on the White House South Lawn on Monday night building a new permanent helipad, shielded from view by a large black fence. The Trump administration has not officially confirmed or commented on the project, which is unusual given the president's tendency to discuss his renovations. The helipad is necessitated by a design flaw in the new Sikorsky VH-92A Marine One helicopter, whose exhaust vent risks scorching the White House grass. The $5 million project is financed by a donation from Lockheed Martin, the helicopter's manufacturer. This is part of a series of controversial second-term Trump renovation projects in Washington, D.C., including a ballroom, a golf course renovation, and a proposed triumphal arch.
Forbes - BusinessTrump Begins Another White House Renovation Project With No Notice
President Trump has started construction of a new helipad on the White House's South Lawn without any official announcement, according to The Washington Post. The project aims to address damage caused by new Sikorsky helicopters, built by Lockheed Martin, which burn the lawn with their exhaust vents. Lockheed Martin is reportedly donating $5 million to fund the helipad. Previous administrations avoided a permanent helipad due to historical preservation concerns and preserving the traditional image of presidents boarding Marine One on the grass. The article notes this is part of a pattern in Trump's second term, including demolishing the East Wing for a ballroom, paving the Rose Garden, and hosting a UFC fight on the South Lawn. The author criticizes the lack of transparency and respect for tradition in Trump's White House renovations.
The New RepublicTrump Begins Another White House Renovation Project With No Notice
President Trump has initiated construction of a new permanent helipad on the White House South Lawn without prior public notice. The project, reported by The Washington Post, aims to address damage from new Sikorsky helicopters (built by Lockheed Martin) whose exhaust vents burn the grass. Lockheed Martin is reportedly donating $5 million towards the helipad. Previous administrations avoided a permanent helipad due to historical preservation concerns and the classical image of presidents boarding Marine One on the grass. This is part of a series of controversial Trump-era White House alterations in his second term, including demolishing the East Wing for a ballroom, paving the Rose Garden for a stone patio, and hosting a UFC fight. The article also details that the ballroom contract was awarded as a no-bid $500 million deal to Clark Construction, bypassing standard federal bidding processes under a national security exemption, despite Trump's claims it would be privately funded. Critics accuse Trump of disregarding history and tradition for his own design aesthetic.
The New Republic