- President Donald Trump formally announced plans Monday for a granite helipad on the White House South Lawn, stating it is essential for accommodating new, more powerful presidential helicopters that damage the grass upon landing.
- Trump said the helipad, estimated to cost up to $6 million, would be privately funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, due to their "guilt" over the new helicopters' impact on the lawn.
- Construction crews had already begun work on the South Lawn at the time of the announcement, with Trump describing the helipad as a "beautiful thing" made of carved granite and with a White House seal.
- The new VH-92A Patriot helicopters, delivered in 2024, have seen limited service at the White House because their exhaust vents aim heat downward, scorching the lawn, a problem the helipad aims to resolve.
- This helipad project is one of several major construction initiatives Trump has overseen at the White House, including modifications to the Rose Garden, a Presidential Walk of Fame, and renovations to various rooms and exterior elements.
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