Trump Hails Maiden Marine One Flight From New White House Heliport

Trump thanks Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet, D.C. construction workers and Clark Construction for a granite South Lawn helipad he says took 25 years to get done.

First Published: September 21, 2026, 2:17 PM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump celebrated the first Marine One flight from a newly built heliport on the White House South Lawn, thanking Lockheed Martin and the crews who built it.

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “We are just leaving the White House Lawn on the maiden voyage from the newly built, and very beautiful, Heliport! I want to thank Jim Taiclet, CEO of Lockheed Martin, who made this valuable contribution to our Country. Our Government has been thinking about doing this for 25 years, but was never able to get it done. I get things done! Also, and most importantly, THANK YOU to the Great Construction Workers and Stone Masons of the Washington, D.C., area, who created something very special, and to Clark Construction for its wonderful supervisory work. GOD BLESS AMERICA! Trump” on September 21, 2026 at 2:08 PM ET.

This is Trump’s 10th message released today, and the last post was 50 minutes ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 65 of his 553 posts over the last 30 days classified as Domestic Policy posts.

Trump named Jim Taiclet, the chief executive of Lockheed Martin, as the driver behind the project. The president said his government had considered the work for 25 years without completing it. He credited construction workers and stone masons in the Washington, D.C., area, and singled out Clark Construction for its supervisory work.

President Donald J. Trump departs from the White House South Lawn on 09/21/2026.

The landing zone sits on the South Lawn and is made of carved black and white granite designed to resemble the presidential seal according to fox5dc. The president shared the first photo of the completed heliport in an earlier truthsocial post, saying the project came in ahead of schedule and under budget and calling it a “Gift to America” according to fox5dc. He announced the effort in July, saying the landing of the Marine One helicopter had roughed up the grass and that pilots had trouble landing on the lawn according to fox5dc. Trump described the replacement surface as ultra-durable, top-rated white granite, writing that there would be “no cracks, or defacement, EVER” according to fox5dc.

The landing facility spans 100 feet (about 30.5 meters) and was built with four-inch granite slabs sourced from a quarry in California according to tribuneindia. Work began after crews dismantled a combat sports arena from the South Lawn that had hosted a “Freedom 250 UFC” gala marking Trump’s 80th birthday in June, according to tribuneindia. Initial projections placed the expenditure at about $6 million according to tribuneindia. Trump disclosed in July that Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin division responsible for the Marine One fleet, was paying the full cost according to tribuneindia.

Trump has framed the helipad as one of a string of renovations carried out since returning to power, describing the White House as a “palace” while showing off the project according to news.meaww. He said Sikorsky offered to reimburse the government after apologizing for not warning the administration about the power generated by the Marine One helicopter fleet completed in 2024 according to news.meaww. A Lockheed Martin spokeswoman previously said the company’s contribution was given to the National Park Service and that its work with the administration followed ethical and compliance policies according to news.meaww.