US President Donald Trump would plan to build a permanent heliport at the White House to prevent repeated damage to the lawn caused by helicopter landings, reports Reuters, taken over by Agerpres.
Heat from exhaust fumes from VH-92A Patriot helicopters has repeatedly damaged grass, limiting the aircraft's use at the White House, according to an article published Monday by the Wall Street Journal.
Sikorsky and its parent company, Lockheed Martin, are said to be working on possible solutions to this problem.
The news came days after Trump joked during a dinner at the Rose Garden Club that he would have described the White House using nasty words if it hadn't been for first lady Melania Trump's warning that he was having “presidential behavior.” He also complained about structural problems at the residence, including falling columns and chipped plaster.
The helipad would be the latest change to the White House complex during Trump's second term. The US president is also reportedly planning to build a helipad this summer at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
In 2025, Trump decided to demolish the east wing to replace it with an 8,361-square-foot ballroom, which is nearly double the size of the executive residence. Its costs are estimated at 400 million dollars
The ballroom is part of Trump's larger effort to reshape Washington's monumental downtown, which also includes plans for a 76-foot arch and changes to the Kennedy Center.
