U.S. President Donald Trump's White House ballroom project was approved by Washington planning authorities on Thursday (April 2), two days after a judge ruled work cannot proceed without Congress' approval.

Washington

The National Capital Planning Commission has given its approval to President Donald Trump's plan to construct a 90,000 square foot, $400 million ballroom at the White House. This decision follows a judicial ruling that work on the project cannot proceed without Congressional approval, a matter that the Justice Department is currently appealing.

While the commission's vote allows the East Wing Modernization Project to move forward, the proposal has faced significant public opposition, with 97 percent of 35,000 public comments reportedly against it. Some commission members, including D.C. Council chairman Phil Mendelsohn, raised concerns about the design's size and impact, and protesters gathered outside the commission building prior to the vote.

Planning commission approves Trump's White House ballroom project

U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to build a large new ballroom at the White House was approved by planning authorities on Thursday. This came just two days after a judge ruled that work cannot continue without approval from Congress. The National Capital Planning Commission voted to approve the East Wing Modernization Project. It is a $400 million, 90,000 square foot ballroom. Trump says the project is privately funded and will become a lasting symbol of his presidency. The commission is chaired by Will Scharf, who served as Trump's personal lawyer before being appointed to the role. I believe that in time, the nation and successive presidents of both parties in all political stripes long into the future will be grateful to President Trump for having initiated and brought this project into being. The ballroom is part of Trump's wider efforts to reshape Washington's monumental core, which also includes plans for a tall arch, a renovation of the Kennedy Center, replacing the White House Rose Garden, and new gilding in the Oval Office. However, not everyone supported the decision. Phil Mendelsohn, a commission member and chairman of the D.C. Council, voted against it. The issue to me is not whether there should be a ballroom. And I think a lot of the comments here have been about whether there should be a ballroom. I don't think that's it. It's the design. It's just too large. And if we can get the same program, but not as tall, not competing in height with the main structure, and a condensed footprint, we are better for that. Before the vote, more than a dozen protesters gathered outside the commission building. Democracy advocate John Gollinger spoke out about the proposal. We're here to protest the vote to ram through Trump's ballroom without a real review. This is a stack, a six-foot stack, of 35,000 public comments from Americans around this country, 97 percent of them opposed to Trump's ballroom. And we're here today to make sure the people on this commission know that the American people think this project is a bad idea. The Justice Department appealed Tuesday's ruling that the president can't build a White House ballroom on the former East Wing site without Congress' approval.

Stocks slumped and oil prices soared Thursday after President Donald Trump vowed the U.S. will continue to attack Iran and failed to offer a clear timetable for ending the conflict in the Middle East.

Wall Street

Iran Strikes

Middle East Conflict

Wall Street falls, oil surges after Trump threatens more Iran attacks

French President Emmanuel Macron said U.S. President Donald Trump's mocking comments about his marriage did not merit a response, calling them "neither elegant nor appropriate" for the situation.

Paris

Macron says Trump marriage comments do not 'merit response'

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Pam Bondi is out as attorney general, in his second major cabinet-level shake-up in less than a month. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will temporarily replace Bondi in an interim capacity.

Trump fires Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general

President Donald Trump said the U.S. is close to its war goals in Iran, aiming to destroy missile production and block nuclear ambitions. Oil prices jumped and markets fell after Trump's first address since the war began.

Trump says U.S. nears war goals in Iran as markets slide

NASA’s historic Artemis II mission to the moon launched Wednesday evening, taking four astronauts into Earth's orbit and on a path toward the world's first crewed lunar mission in a generation, beginning a journey into remarkable territory.

Florida

Artemis II launches as NASA shoots for the Moon in historic mission

President Trump addressed the nation about the Iran war Wednesday night, saying that the U.S. would complete its mission there "very shortly." He also sought to assure Americans that the conflict with Iran would be brief compared to other wars in U.S. history and insisted that gas prices would go down quickly.

Trump says Iran war objectives 'nearing completion' in address to the nation

The first payment to Ukraine under the €90 billion loan could happen in a matter of days after Hungary lifts its veto. EU officials, however, concede the dispute will be solved only after the country goes to the polls on April 12.

Brussels

Ukraine Invasion

EU readies first payment to Ukraine as soon as Hungary lifts veto

U.S. President Donald Trump is again threatening to pull the United States out of NATO, calling European allies "cowards" for their refusal to support the joint U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Trump renews NATO attacks as Europe rejects role in Iran war

President Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Supreme Court hearing after showing up on Wednesday (April 1) to listen to arguments on his birthright citizenship executive order.

Trump becomes first sitting president to attend Supreme Court hearing

American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped in Iraq, was concerned about her safety before she was taken, one of her editors tells CBS News' Chris Livesay.

Baghdad

American journalist Shelly Kittleson kidnapped in Iraq

The Artemis II mission to the moon is expected in a few hours if all goes according to plan. Linda Godwin, a retired astronaut and professor emeritus at the University of Missouri, joins CBS News with more.

Cape Canaveral

NASA's Artemis II mission set to launch

Golf legend Tiger Woods said on Instagram that he's "stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment" and focus on his health following his DUI arrest after a car crash in Florida last week. His announcement comes as court documents reveal new details about his arrest.

Jupiter

Tiger Woods seeks treatment after DUI arrest

U.S. President Donald Trump says operations in the Middle East will end in 2 to 3 weeks, but the administration wouldn't confirm if it's planning a ground invasion. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the U.S. prefers a peace deal, adding, 'In the meantime we'll negotiate with bombs.'

Hegseth says Iran deal preferable, U.S. will 'negotiate with bombs'

Trump targets birthright citizenship as the Supreme Court reopens the 14th Amendment battle, sparking protests and fears for U.S. identity.

Trump to challenge U.S. birthright citizenship in Supreme Court

Heavy strikes hit Lebanon's capital Beirut overnight as Israel claimed it had struck a "senior Hezbollah commander" and another member of the group. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said his country's military intends to occupy a swathe of southern Lebanon.

Beirut

Israeli strikes kill seven in Beirut as it vows to occupy southern Lebanon

Syria's president has met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London to discuss the return of Syrian refugees and potential British investment in his country. Ahmed al-Sharaa is trying to drum up support in Europe for Syria's economic recovery after years of conflict.

London

Syrian president Al-Sharaa meets UK PM Starmer in London

President Trump lashed out at European allies who he said haven't done enough to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic. Weijia Jiang has details.

Trump lashes out at European allies over Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called on NATO allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed by Iran during the ongoing war.

Pentagon chief calls on NATO to act on Strait of Hormuz crisis

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday (March 31) in the case of a Colorado law banning conversion therapy for minors. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the lone dissenter.

Supreme Court rules against Colorado youth 'conversion therapy' ban

Spain's airspace is now closed to U.S. planes involved in attacks on Iran, a step beyond its previous denial of use of jointly operated military bases. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has become one of the most vocal critics of the U.S. and Israeli attacks in Iran.

Madrid

Spain closes airspace to U.S. planes involved in attacks on Iran

The FBI says the synagogue attack earlier in March was inspired by Hezbollah, targeting Michigan’s largest Jewish temple with a truck packed with fuel.

West Bloomfield Township

FBI: Michigan synagogue attack inspired by Iran-backed Hezbollah

High Representative Kaja Kallas gathered EU foreign ministers in Kyiv to honor the victims of the Bucha massacre, which has since then come to symbolize the search for justice and accountability in Ukraine.

Bucha

EU, except Hungary, vow accountability for war crimes in Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump has told aides that he is willing to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials.

Trump willing to end war even if Strait of Hormuz stays closed: report

A new court filing reveals defense attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk, claim an ATF analysis could not conclusively connect the bullet that killed Kirk to the gun Robinson allegedly used. Now the lawyers are asking to delay Robinson's preliminary hearing to review the evidence.

Salt Lake City

Questions raised about bullet used to kill Charlie Kirk

A Tehran resident told CBS News many people have given up hope that the war will help topple the regime, adding that it is "ready at any cost" to stay in power. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed threats to strike Iran's power plants.

Tehran

Trump continues Iran threats amid hopes for peace

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump's partner in attacking Iran, said more than half of his military aims had been achieved, but both leaders refused to put a timeline on an operation that has ignited a month-long regional war and jolted global markets.

Jerusalem

Netanyahu says Iran war goals achieved 'beyond halfway point'

The White House said U.S. sanctions policy toward Cuba remains unchanged, even as a sanctioned Russian oil tanker was allowed to deliver fuel to the island on humanitarian grounds. The United States suspended Venezuela's oil exports to Cuba after American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in early January.

Havana

U.S. says Cuba sanctions unchanged as Russian oil tanker allowed entry

About 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports leave the country via the small island in the Persian Gulf's north, much of it destined for China and other Asian markets.

Kharg

Trump threatens to obliterate Kharg Island if no deal reached soon

Iran issued a warning to the U.S., against a possible ground invasion as both sides continue to launch air and missile strikes. Holly Williams has the latest.

Iran warns against U.S. launching ground operation

Millions of people protested at "No Kings" rallies across the U.S. and Europe over the weekend against the Trump administration's policies and the war in Iran. Organizers estimate at least 8 million participated in more than 3,300 protests worldwide.

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