Trump Unveils $6 Million White House Granite Helipad

President Donald Trump inaugurated a new granite helipad on the White House South Lawn on Monday, September 21, 2026. The $6 million project, funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, a division of Lockheed Martin, replaces the practice of landing Marine One on the grass to prevent heat damage and accommodate the heavier VH-92A Patriot aircraft. The facility features a presidential seal design constructed from black-and-white California granite.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Trump praised the supervisory work of Clark Construction and local stone masons, noting that the government had considered such a project for 25 years. Following the event, he took a maiden voyage from the helipad to Joint Base Andrews to board Air Force One for the UN General Assembly in New York City.

Major television networks suspended the TV pool and did not carry the event after the White House barred CNN from participating. The White House defended the restriction, stating that access changes are common and that the rule was never that every outlet gets in. The standoff occurs as the president prepares to host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit.