President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that construction crews have begun building a granite helipad on the White House South Lawn, asserting the new landing zone is necessary to accommodate the more powerful VH-92A Patriot helicopters that replaced the aging Vietnam-era fleet. Trump stated the project would be privately funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, with an estimated cost of up to $6 million.
Exhaust Heat Problem Drives Construction
The new VH-92A Patriot helicopters, delivered in 2024, have seen limited service at the White House because their downward-aiming exhaust vents scorch the grass. Trump explained, “It’s not that the grass gets discolored — it gets ripped out.” The Marines and Sikorsky have spent years seeking a solution. Trump recalled telling military generals that a helipad would resolve the issue, and that Sikorsky felt “a little bit guilty” about the problem, prompting them to cover the full cost.
The president emphasized the aesthetic choice of granite over concrete: “You’re landing on granite, which is the strongest stone.” He added that the helipad will feature the White House seal carved into granite and could also host outdoor news conferences. Trump said the pad will allow officials to “finally retire 45-year-old helicopters” that have long served as Marine One.
Funding and Timeline
Trump initially claimed the project would be privately funded, but some of his previous White House renovations used public funds despite similar assertions. Lockheed Martin responded to inquiries with a statement: “This specific contribution was made to the Trust for the National Mall, the National Park Service’s nonprofit organization” and “conducted in full accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.” No timeline for completion was provided.
The VH-92A Patriot fleet replaced the VH-3D Sea King helicopters that first entered service in 1978. The modernization effort began under President George W. Bush but was scrapped due to cost overruns, then restarted under President Barack Obama. The military awarded Sikorsky a contract in May 2014, and the last of 23 new aircraft was delivered in 2024. President Joe Biden took the first flight aboard a VH-92A to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that year.
White House Renovations Continue
The helipad is the latest in a series of Trump-led White House construction projects. Previous work includes tearing up part of the Rose Garden for a patio reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago estate, affixing partisan plaques to the colonnade for a Presidential Walk of Fame, redoing the Lincoln Bedroom bathroom, renovating the Palm Room, installing new flagpoles, and demolishing the East Wing for a ballroom. On Monday, Trump also detailed a project to revamp the north side columns, noting crews have stripped “about 150 years of paint.” He said, “A lot of love is being put into the White House,” but did not specify who would fund the column work.
Marine One Fleet Status
Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Jacob M. Sugg declined to comment on White House property matters but confirmed the Marine One squadron currently includes nine VH-3D Sea Kings from the 1970s, six VH-60Ns from the late 1980s, and ten VH-92A Patriots. The newer helicopters have been limited in use due to the exhaust issue, which the granite helipad is designed to mitigate.
