Trump Quietly Builds New Helipad on White House Lawn
The company whose new helicopters risk scorching the White House lawn is now paying millions to fix the problem it created.
Construction crews worked into Monday night on the South Lawn, erecting a large fence around the site of a new permanent helipad near the South Portico — the traditional landing spot for Marine One. The White House has not officially announced the project.
Why the Lawn Needed a Fix
The new generation of Marine One helicopters, the Sikorsky VH-92A Patriot, carries an exhaust vent that risks burning the grass where presidents have landed for nearly seven decades. Trump has continued relying on older helicopter models for grass landings, including during his recent trip to the G7 summit in France.
He has, however, used the new VH-92A for other travel, including a trip to New York City for the NBA Finals, where it ferried him to a helipad in Manhattan instead.
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Who's Paying For It
Lockheed Martin, which owns Sikorsky Aircraft and builds the VH-92A, has pledged $5 million toward the helipad project. The Marine Corps received its full 23-aircraft VH-92A fleet roughly two years ago at a cost of about $4.95 billion, or roughly $215 million per aircraft, according to a 2019 Government Accountability Office report.
Neither the White House nor the Marine Corps has responded to questions about the project's timing or total cost.
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Part of a Broader Pattern
The helipad is the latest in a string of changes Trump has made to the White House grounds during his second term. He has demolished the building's East Wing, paved over the Rose Garden, added gilding to the Oval Office, and built a "Presidential Walk of Fame."
Retired Marine Corps colonel Ray L'Heureux, who previously oversaw the Marine Helicopter Squadron One, said the project appears operationally necessary given the cost of the new fleet. "The new program is a costly one, and not using the capability is bad optics all around," he said.
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Past Presidents Considered It, Then Backed Off
Previous administrations weighed building a permanent White House helipad but ultimately dismissed the idea, in part over concerns it would alter the building's iconic image. Trump is the first president to move forward with the project.
L'Heureux said he hopes the visual impact can be minimized, suggesting the use of green concrete to help the structure blend into the surrounding lawn.
What Comes Next
The White House has not disclosed a completion date or confirmed final costs for the project. With construction already underway and fencing in place, the helipad appears set to become a permanent fixture of the South Lawn regardless of whether the administration formally announces it.
TL;DR
- Trump has begun construction on a new permanent White House helipad near the South Portico
- The project addresses new Marine One helicopters that risk scorching the lawn
- Lockheed Martin has pledged $5 million toward the helipad
- The White House has not officially announced the project
- Trump is the first president to move forward with a permanent White House helipad
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Politics & World News Editor
James Mitchell has covered US and UK politics for over a decade, with a focus on elections, foreign policy, and Capitol Hill. He breaks down complex political stories into clear, fast analysis.
