President Donald Trump has ordered contractors to redo a newly constructed helipad on the White House South Lawn, demolishing a partially completed 100-foot-wide granite presidential seal. The reconstruction was prompted by Trump's dissatisfaction with the lawn's slope, as he demands a completely level landing surface rather than the lawn's natural incline, which dips up to 20 degrees in some areas.
Construction crews had been working day and night to complete the project before a scheduled state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping in late September. The landing pad is necessary to prevent exhaust fumes from the new VH-92A Patriot helicopter from scorching the lawn's grass. Until the pad is finished, Trump is using the Ellipse, located south of the White House, for Marine One arrivals.
The project, estimated to cost between $5 million and $6 million, is being fully funded by Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky Aircraft. Trump stated that the manufacturer agreed to cover the costs because they felt guilty about the grass damage caused by the new aircraft.