The Supreme Court gave President Donald Trump a boost on Monday by allowing him to continue building his $400 million ballroom at the White House. But the 5-4 decision was not without opposition from the high court’s Republican-appointed bench.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, split from the court’s conservative majority and joined the three liberal justices in dissent.

Writing on behalf of the dissenters, Roberts said construction of Trump’s “new, privately funded state ballroom” was “likely unlawful.”

“The White House is an iconic American building whose symbolism and history are wrapped up in its architecture,” Roberts wrote, adding, “All the more reason to ensure that those responsible follow the rules in deciding what to tear down and what to build up at the People’s House.”

In the unsigned opinion, the five Republican-appointed justices found that the Trump administration is likely to prevail in showing the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacks legal standing to challenge Trump’s East Wing ballroom project. The preservation group had argued Trump does not have unilateral authority to proceed with the costly construction.

Read Roberts’ full dissent on Page 9 below.

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