President Trump orders contractors to redo the White House helipad after expressing dissatisfaction with its appearance.
President Trump ordered contractors to redo the White House helipad on the South Lawn after expressing dissatisfaction with its appearance. Construction workers were recently seen using jackhammers to remove the presidential seal that previously lined the outer edge of the landing pad. The administration announced that the project is being funded by Lockheed Martin and aims to provide a safe landing spot for Marine One while protecting the South Lawn grass from helicopter exhaust fumes. President Trump requested that the helipad sit level with the horizon, whereas the current South Lawn slants downward. Contractors are currently considering whether to restart the project by altering the lawn itself to achieve this level surface. The project, which costs approximately $6 million, is part of a larger series of beautification efforts under the administration, including a new ballroom and renovations to the Rose Garden. The administration noted that these operational upgrades do not require commission reviews, allowing for faster progress toward completion before the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.