DOJ invokes 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' in bizarre court filing backing White House ballroom

In an unconventional motion filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Monday, the Department of Justice abandoned traditional legalese in favor of rhetoric that appears to mirror President Donald Trump's Truth Social posts. Seeking the dissolution of a court-ordered injunction against President Trump's controversial $400 million ballroom project, the DOJ attacked the National Trust for Historic Preservation in all caps.

"The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a beautiful name, but even their name is FAKE because when they add the words 'in the United States'... it makes it sound like a Governmental Agency, which it is not," the DOJ wrote in its filing, calling the 76-year-old congressionally chartered nonprofit "very bad for our Country."

The document claims that the National Trust's efforts to protect the historic character of the White House were actually meant to block the project for political reasons. The filing states, "They stop many projects that are worthy, and hurt many others. In this case, they are trying to stop one that is vital to our National Security, and the Safety of all Presidents of the United States, both current and future, their families, staff, and Cabinet members."

In a language that can be considered both political and partisan in nature, the government's legal counsel then argued that the Trust's decision to oppose the White House ballroom construction in court stemmed from 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'; this claim was reiterated in the document a second time, this time in all caps.

"If any other President had the ability, foresight, or talents necessary, to build this ballroom, which will be one of the greatest, safest, and most secure structures of its kind anywhere in the World, there would never have been a lawsuit,” the filing read. "But, because it is DONALD J. TRUMP, a highly successful real estate developer, who has abilities that others don't, especially those who assume the Office of President, this frivolous and meritless lawsuit was filed. Again, it's called TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME."

A key part of the DOJ's argument was the recent attack at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The DOJ, repeating the views of many Republican lawmakers, argued that the ballroom is needed for national security. The filing stated, "Presidents need a secure space for large events, that currently does not exist in Washington, D.C., and this Court's injunction stalling this Project cannot defensibly continue, for the sake of the safety of President Trump, future Presidents, and their families, Cabinets, and staff."

In response to the DOJ's request to drop the lawsuit, National Trust President and CEO Carol Quillen said the organization does not oppose a meeting space at the White House, but any construction must follow legal procedures. "We have always acknowledged the utility of a larger meeting space at the White House. Building it lawfully requires the approval of Congress, which the Administration could seek at any time," Quillen stated.