President Donald Trump officially opened a new helipad on the South Lawn of the White House on September 21 2026 taking part in a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by officials and workers involved in the project.
The ceremony featured Trump using oversized gold scissors to cut through a red white and blue ribbon marking the opening of the new facility.
A New Helipad at the White House
The new helipad is located on the South Lawn and is intended to provide a dedicated landing area for Marine One and other presidential helicopter operations.
The project replaces the previous arrangement in which helicopters landed on the South Lawn itself. The new facility was constructed as part of changes to the White House grounds.
Television Networks Did Not Provide Pooled Coverage
The ceremony also drew attention because major television networks did not provide their usual pooled live coverage of the event.
Instead the White House provided its own video feed of the ceremony.
The decision came amid tensions between the White House and members of the press over access and coverage. The Associated Press reported that the networks did not carry the ribbon cutting as a normal pooled television event.
Watch the Ceremony
The White House released video of the ribbon cutting ceremony showing Trump officially opening the new helipad and cutting the ribbon.
The ceremony was followed by Trump’s departure aboard Marine One.
