RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from The Independent — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 3 sourcesThe president reportedly told contractors to redo the project on the uneven South Lawn
Bookmark Comments Go to comments Bookmark popover Removed from bookmarks
Construction crews have spent weeks digging up the South Lawn of the White House to build a massive granite helipad to accommodate Donald Trump’s Marine One helicopter.
But the president has reportedly directed contractors to redo the work after growing frustrated by the lawn’s slope, which prevents the landing pad from sitting level with the horizon.
According to The Washington Post , workers have already started to dismantle the project, which includes taking apart a 100-foot-wide presidential seal.
The multi-million dollar project , which the president says is being fully paid for by Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky Aircraft, is among several “improvements” under an “ongoing project to best match the needs of the White House,” according to the White House.
“For years, the White House has desperately needed a proper Helipad on White House grounds that will allow the President to land safely and also protect the beautiful South Lawn grass from the fierce exhaust fumes of the incredible Marine One,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement to The Independent.
“Thanks to President Trump, the White House has never looked better, and it will only continue to get better under his leadership,” he added.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office last month, Trump said Sikorsky Aircraft would pay the “full cost” of the project, which he estimated would cost $5 million to $6 million.
The company delivered new VH‑92A Patriot helicopters to the White House in 2024 under a contract under former president Barack Obama, whose administration awarded Sikorsky a $1.24 billion contract to replace the Marine One helicopter fleet.
But Trump has continued to use the existing fleet because exhaust vents on the new model aim heat downwards at takeoff and landing, which singes the South Lawn’s grass.
Helipads do not necessarily need to be perfectly horizontal, to ensure water runoff, according to federal guidelines.
But the South Lawn, which has been used for decades as a landing pad for helicopters that carry the president, slopes downward about 20 degrees in some places, according to the White House. That angle exceeds the recommended incline for helipads, though the area selected for the new helipad is flatter than other spots on the lawn.
The president, who is eager to complete the project by September in time for a state visit from China’s President Xi Jinping , has said that the new aircraft “ripped out” the grass and that Sikorsky agreed to pay for the landing pad because the company “felt a little bit guilty” about the damage.
“You’re landing on granite, which is the strongest stone,” the president said last month.
The Independent has requested comment from Lockheed Martin.
The president has overseen a dramatic transformation of the nation’s capital with a multi-billion dollar package of gilded renovations and new construction catering to his tastes , including the demolition of the East Wing of the White House for a $300 million ballroom.
Images of an under-construction UFC ring next to the demolished East Wing were widely ridiculed as a snapshot of Trump’s wrecking ball approach to D.C.
Trump also has presented plans for the world’s largest “triumphal” arch and forked over nearly $15 million for no-bid contracts to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The shallow pool, which the president repeatedly promotes as “bigger than skyscrapers,” was refurbished with a shade of dark blue and outfitted with “advanced nanobubbler technology” to tackle algae blooms that have long plagued the landmark.
But algae returned shortly after the renovations were complete, and the new sealant started to peel off in chunks that bubbled to the surface. He has repeatedly blamed “vandalism” for the damage, despite evidence from his own administration showing that it was most likely due to “rushed and botched installation” from contractors under pressure to complete the work by ther Fourth of July.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.