President Donald Trump recently announced the completion of a new helipad at the White House, a project he requested last month. The helipad, which he described as “magnificent,” was built on the South Lawn, where a temporary fighting arena had previously been set up for a UFC event celebrating Trump’s 80th birthday in June. Trump shared a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, highlighting a historical photo of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who became the first U.S. president to fly in a helicopter in 1957. Trump noted that Eisenhower did not need a dedicated helipad at the time, but he believes America does now. The helipad was constructed by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, which also produces the new helicopters used by the president, known as Marine One. Trump stated that Sikorsky is covering the $6 million cost of the project. However, Trump had requested changes to the design in August, expressing dissatisfaction with the initial construction. He wanted a landing pad that was level with the horizon and considered modifying the slopes of the South Lawn. It is unclear whether these changes added additional costs to the project. During a recent tour of the White House, Trump praised the helipad and the newly renovated White House ballroom, describing the helipad as “incredible from the air and from every place else.” He also signed the helipad’s surface during a 30-minute, uninterrupted visit with reporters. The helipad is designed to be 100 feet wide and constructed from 4-inch-thick granite from a quarry in California, featuring the presidential seal. Workers had initially expected the project to be completed by September 21, just two days before a scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump expressed hope that the helipad would be ready in time for the visit, though he noted it was not essential. The helipad is part of a broader set of renovations at the White House, including the construction of the ballroom and the demolition of the East Wing. These projects have drawn criticism from former administration officials and relatives of past presidents, who argue that the changes are unnecessary and damaging to the historic structure. Legal challenges to the renovations were recently addressed by the Supreme Court, which lifted a lower court’s block on the construction in a 5-4 decision. While the case could return to the high court, the ruling allows the ongoing work—led by a 250-person crew working 20 hours a day, seven days a week—to continue.