Construction continues on a helipad on the South Lawn of the White House, seen from the Washington Monument, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that a new helipad on the White House grounds is complete, touting the project as both safer and more visually striking than the previous landing area.
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Helicopters had been landing on grass at the White House “for many years,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’s not good and very unsafe.”
Contractors were asked in early August to redo weeks of construction work after the president reportedly took issue with the landing surface’s appearance and slope. The helipad is estimated to have cost up to $6 million, with defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin covering a majority of the construction cost due to the damage caused by their aircraft.
Trump says the new White House helipad is ready — and here it is pic.twitter.com/hZRWEpY6wq
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— Danny Kemp (@dannyctkemp) September 2, 2026
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Trump praised the work on the new heliport, which he says was finished ahead of schedule and came out “more beautiful than I would have thought.”
“Incredible the job they’ve done,” Trump said. “Carved granite with the seal of the president of the United States.”
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