Trump Announces Granite Helipad on White House South Lawn

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that a granite helipad is being constructed on the White House South Lawn, a project he says is necessary to accommodate new, more powerful presidential helicopters. The president stated the work is being privately funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, at an estimated cost of $5 million to $6 million.

Trump confirmed the project during a press conference in the Oval Office, noting that construction crews had already begun work. He explained that the heat and exhaust from the newer VH92A Patriot helicopters, which began delivery in 2024, have been damaging the historic lawn. "When you land on the grass, it's not that the grass gets discolored, it gets ripped out," Trump said. He added that Sikorsky agreed to fund the project because, in his words, "they didn't tell us how powerful these helicopters were, and they felt a little bit guilty."

The helipad will feature the White House seal carved into granite. "It's got the seal of the White House on it in granite, in carved granite," Trump told reporters. "It's really a beautiful thing." He did not provide a timeline for the project's completion.