The White House belongs to the American people — not any one president. And it should not be altered to satisfy the personal vanity or private fundraising goals of any administration.

Yet that’s exactly what’s happening.

Construction crews have begun demolishing part of the East Wing façade to make way for President Trump’s proposed $250 million ballroom.

Despite Trump’s earlier claims that the White House would remain untouched, the historic East Wing — built during World War II and used by generations of First Ladies and public servants — is already being torn down.

Trump says the ballroom is “separate” from the White House, but it’s directly connected. He says it’s funded by “private donors,” but the public has no information about who those donors are or what influence they may have in return.

This is one of the biggest structural changes to the White House since the 1940s. It deserves congressional oversight, public transparency, and historic review — not backroom deals and vague promises.

We call on Congress to immediately:

• Hold public hearings on the demolition and construction process;
• Demand full disclosure of all donors to the project and their financial contributions;
• Pause further construction until a full historic and environmental review is completed;
• Introduce legislation to require any future modifications to the White House grounds to go through a formal congressional and preservation process.
   

This is not just about a ballroom. It’s about protecting the integrity of the people’s house — and ensuring that no president can quietly turn a national landmark into a personal legacy project.

Sign this petition to demand Congress step in before more of the White House is changed forever — without your consent.

Image: AFP via Getty