Beneath Trump’s ballroom legal case: A brief history of the White House bunker

President Donald Trump's court battle over a $400 million White House ballroom project has highlighted the existence of a historic underground bunker beneath the East Wing. The bunker, used for presidential safety during crises like 9/11 and 2020 protests, dates to 1942 and remains shrouded in secrecy. A federal appeals court recently allowed construction of the ballroom to continue, excluding safety-related work.