Blumenthal Presses White House Ballroom Donors on Terms of Donation, Potential Deals Made in Exchange for Contributions

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, wrote a letter to the donors of President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project inquiring about the amount of their donations and any potential agreements reached in exchange for their contributions. The list of 30 plus donors, released by the White House today, includes wealthy individuals, tech companies, and other major corporations—including Apple, Meta, Google, and Amazon. This letter comes shortly after President Trump demolished the entire East Wing of the White House to construct his billionaire-funded ballroom.

“President Trump declared that the new ballroom ‘won’t interfere with the current building. It’ll be near it, but not touching.’ Yet earlier this week—without advance notice to Congress or the public—the entire East Wing of the White House was demolished to make way for the President’s new ballroom,” wrote Blumental. “Furthermore, the President’s initial announcement projected that the ballroom would cost $200 million, but an updated estimate provided this week stated that the costs had already ballooned 50%, and are now expected to reach $300 million, an amount that the President has said will come entirely from private donations.”

Blumenthal highlighted the need for transparency and accountability from the Trump Administration regarding the use of private donations, writing, “The President’s East Wing demolition project has deviated in many ways from the procedures used for prior White House renovations. The use of private donations to fund this project raises questions that Americans deserve to have answered. Many of the donors have deep financial, business, or other personal interests before the Administration… The American people are entitled to all the relevant facts about who is funding the most substantial construction project at the White House in recent history.”

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook can be found below, and similar letters were sent to each of the donors of the White House ballroom project. A compilation of all of the letters can be found here.

Dear Mr. Cook:

On July 31, 2025, President Trump announced plans to construct a new ballroom on White House grounds, promising at the time that the new structure would preserve the historic White House. President Trump declared that the new ballroom “won’t interfere with the current building. It’ll be near it, but not touching.”¹ Yet earlier this week—without advance notice to Congress or the public—the entire East Wing of the White House was demolished to make way for the President’s new ballroom.² Photos of construction crews leveling the most iconic residence in America shocked the public and prompted alarm among historians and preservationists about what irreplaceable American heritage may have been lost. ³ Furthermore, the President’s initial announcement projected that the ballroom would cost $200 million, but an updated estimate provided this week stated that the costs had already ballooned 50%, and are now expected to reach $300 million, an amount that the President has said will come entirely from private donations.⁴ You have been identified as one of the donors to this project.⁵ Pursuant to Senate Rule XXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate and Senate Resolution 94 (119th Cong.), Section 12, I write to request information regarding the terms of this donation.

The President’s East Wing demolition project has deviated in many ways from the procedures used for prior White House renovations.⁶ The use of private donations to fund this project raises questions that Americans deserve to have answered. Many of the donors have deep financial, business, or other personal interests before the Administration.⁷ Such concerns have been amplified by the lack of transparency surrounding the President’s plans, including until recently, the identity of those donors. While the White House published a list of donors on October 23, 2025, many questions remain about the amount of each contribution, the agreement reached with each contributor, and what promises may have been or may yet be made in exchange for what presumably will be substantial contributions.⁸ The American people are entitled to all the relevant facts about who is funding the most substantial construction project at the White House in recent history.

As one of the individuals or entities identified by the White House as a donor to the East Wing demolition and ballroom construction, you possess critical information about the Administration’s management of this project, how your contribution was obtained, and what President Trump or his representatives may have agreed to provide in exchange. To assist the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in its inquiry into the financing of the demolition of the East Wing and construction of the ballroom, please preserve all documents, records, ⁹ and communications¹⁰ related to your contributions to the White House Ballroom project, and provide the following information by November 7, 2025:

1. Please list all White House personnel or other representatives or associates of the Trump Administration or Trump family with whom you have spoken about the donation.
1. Please identify the individual or individuals who solicited your donation, including the date(s) of any and all solicitations.
2. Please describe the scope and nature of the discussions or negotiations with each individual listed.

1. What amount did you contribute to the White House Ballroom project?

1. Was this amount suggested to you by the President, Trump Administration officials, or other individuals representing or otherwise affiliated with the President or his family?

1. 1. If not, how did you determine the amount you contributed?

3. Did you receive any documentation memorializing your donation or otherwise providing a receipt for the funds that you provided? If so, please provide a copy of that documentation.
2. Did you enter into any formal agreement or other written terms in connection with your donation? If so, please produce a copy of that agreement.
3. Were you given a choice for whether your name would appear on the list of donors? If so, why did you choose to have your name published?
4. Please provide a list of all lobbying contacts you or anyone working on your behalf has made with the White House, or any executive agency, since January 20, 2025, including the date and subject matter of each meeting.

Please contact the Subcommittee if you have any questions about responding to these requests. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

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