Construction on a new helipad at the White House, intended for Marine One, has undergone a restart as crews demolished a granite seal that was to serve as the helicopter's landing spot. Workers used jackhammers on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026, to remove the seal, according to The Associated Press.

Initial work on the helipad began after the removal of a fighting arena from the White House’s South Lawn, which had been set up for the “Freedom 250 UFC” event celebrating President Trump’s 80th birthday in June. Reports from May indicated that Trump had discussed relocating the helipad outside the White House to accommodate the new VH-92A Patriot helicopter without damaging the South Lawn.

President Trump told reporters in July that Sikorsky Aircraft, the manufacturer of the new helicopters and a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, is covering the entire $6 million cost of the helipad construction. Trump commented, “Sikorsky is paying for it, you know why? Because they didn’t tell us how powerful these helicopters were and they felt a little bit guilty.” He also noted that the construction required removing grass not due to discoloration but because it was being torn up during landings.

The helipad is planned as a permanent addition to the White House grounds. Additionally, Trump has initiated the development of a large ballroom adjacent to the White House following the complete demolition of the East Wing.

Sources