The Fake & Fraudulent Prophets Around the President
September 4, 2026 |
Daniel Henderson
For the past 10 months, Donald Trump has been demolishing the Federal government. He has systematically torn down systems of checks and balances, he has extinguished oversight functions within the executive branch, he has weaponized the Department of Justice to go after his personal enemies. He hasn’t built one thing…in fact, he is in the process of demolishing the White House…the People’s House.
This photo of Trump’s project to tear down the East Wing is a fitting metaphor for what he is doing generally…destroying the Republic.
On a practical level, this action sustains the idea that Trump is acting more like a king, despite his protests against that title. During and after the No Kings protests recently I’ve seen many MAGA commenters suggest that Trump couldn’t possibly be a king because he would never allow protests. These comments miss the point… his actions belie his words. He is acting like a king and nothing illustrates this more than the damage he is causing to the White House.
This demolition is illegal, unconstitutional and defies the notion of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Let me explain.
No President, including Donald Trump, can ever legally demolish any part of the White House, including the East Wing, to build a private ballroom, a swimming pool, or any other amenity, even if he offered to pay for it personally.
Here are four reasons what Trump is doing is illegal:
The White House is owned by the U.S. government and protected as a historic building under the National Historic Preservation Act and other federal statutes.
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665) established a national policy to preserve historic and cultural resources significant to America’s heritage. It was enacted in response to widespread concern during the 1950s and 1960s that urban renewal and federal development projects were destroying historic buildings and districts.
Section 106 of the Act is perhaps the most important part: any federal agency must consider the effects of its projects on historic properties and allow the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to comment before approving them.
This applies to any federally owned or federally funded action — such as construction, demolition, or alteration of the White House. Trump has not sought such comment or advise.
The White House and its grounds are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Therefore, any structural change — including demolition, additions, or major interior redesign — would trigger a Section 106 review.
The National Park Service (which manages the White House grounds as part of the President’s Park) and the Commission of Fine Arts would also be involved in reviewing any proposal. Ultimately, Congress would need to authorize any significant alteration.
The White House in essence is the “people’s house.” It doesn’t belong to any president. They are temporary residents of the people’s house. Donald thinks the White House belongs to him. It is a monarchial attitude fueled by extreme narcissism.
The sad part is, once again Congress, controlled by MAGA Republicans are no where to be found. They are AWOL. This leads to the second reason Trump is breaking the law.
Major renovations or additions to the White House must be authorized and funded by Congress, regardless of whether private funds are offered.
Article I, Section 9, the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution, puts Congress in control of all federal spending. “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.” This means that even if a president offers private funds for construction, the acceptance and use of those funds must be authorized by law.
In addition to violating the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution, Trump is violating numerous other laws and provisions.
The Antideficiency Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 1341–1353) prohibits federal officials from spending money that hasn’t been appropriated by Congress or accepting voluntary services or gifts that obligate future government spending. So, even if a president wanted to use private money to fund construction, he can’t do so without Congress accepting the funds and appropriating them for that specific use.
We can also talk about the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 which established the General Services Administration (GSA) as the manager of most federal buildings (though the White House is a special case). Under this act, major construction or alterations on federal property generally require GSA oversight and, for significant projects, congressional authorization and appropriations.
Then there is Executive Order 11145 established in 1964 under President Johnson. This order designates the White House as a museum of American history and requires that its furnishings, decor, and structure be preserved. It effectively prohibits unapproved alterations and places the White House under the care of the National Park Service, meaning major physical changes must be reviewed by Congress and relevant preservation bodies.
The Commission of Fine Arts & National Capital Planning Commission are two advisory bodies that must review any proposed changes to the White House, its grounds, or nearby federal buildings in Washington, D.C. However, their approval alone isn’t enough — they advise Congress and the President. Congress still holds the final power to authorize construction.
Conveniently for Trump, both of these bodies are now closed due to the government shutdown.
Congress, representing the people of the United States, holds ultimate decision-making power over renovations and alterations to the White House. The Executive Branch cannot independently initiate or fund construction projects on federal property without congressional approval. Donald Trump is violating numerous laws.
Changes to the White House are tightly controlled to preserve its architectural and historical integrity. The White House isn’t just a federal building or a site on the National Register of Historic Places — it’s also a National Historic Landmark (NHL), which is the highest level of historic recognition in the U.S.
A National Historic Landmark is a site recognized by the Secretary of the Interior as having “exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States.” Only about 2,600 sites have this designation nationwide. The White House was designated in 1960 and is one of the first. It’s managed as part of the President’s Park, under the National Park Service (NPS).
Being a National Historic Landmark automatically means it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but with extra layers of protection and oversight. If someone (even the President) wanted to alter, demolish, or add to the White House or its grounds, here’s what would have to happen step by step:
Step 1. Initiation of Proposal: The proposal (e.g., to demolish the East Wing or build a ballroom) would originate within the Executive Office of the President or National Park Service. The proposal would automatically trigger Section 106 review of the NHPA.
Step 2: Section 106 Review (NHPA) would authorize the responsible federal agency, likely the National Park Service (Department of the Interior), and must: Identify any historic properties that could be affected. Assess the impact of the proposed work on those properties. Consult with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), the District of Columbia’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and possibly public stakeholders. The overriding goal is to avoid, minimize, or mitigate harm to the historic property.
Step 3: National Historic Landmark Protections now kick in. Because it’s an NHL, an additional level of scrutiny applies: The Secretary of the Interior must be notified and may review and comment on any proposed action that could “adversely affect” the landmark. If harm is unavoidable, the agency must document the decision publicly and justify why the action is necessary. The ACHP’s comments become part of the public record and must be considered in any final decision.
Step 4. Congressional Oversight and Authorization come into play. The White House is under congressional jurisdiction for funding and property management. Therefore, Congress would need to approve: Any physical alterations to the White House complex, and any acceptance of private funds (via appropriations or enabling legislation). Federal agencies are required by law to use all prudent and feasible means to avoid harm to NHLs.
Step 5: Now there needs to be a review by Advisory Bodies. Before proceeding, the proposal would also need: design review by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, which evaluates aesthetics and historic integrity. Planning review by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which oversees development in Washington, D.C. And an environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) if the project has significant environmental effects (even aesthetic or cultural ones).
Step 6. Final Approval and Implementation: only after passing through all of the above reviews — and securing explicit congressional approval — could any construction begin. Practically speaking, this process could take years and would be nearly impossible for a project like demolishing part of the White House.
Only someone who sees himself as a King would circumvent this process because it would take too long or something like a ballroom might not pass the review. Trump ignores and violates existing laws and processes and waits for someone to challenge him. In this case, the Republican controlled House isn’t even in session…they are closed for business. Silence from Congressional oversight.
Even if a president wanted to donate money for improvements, those funds would have to be formally accepted by the government and used only for approved projects.
Every President since Harry Truman have used private funds to redecorate, improve, alter or in some manner update the White House. Using private funds is not necessarily an issue. In all of these cases, the afore-mentioned process was used. Private funds were donated to the US government, approved by Congress, and the proper reviews were completed.
Trump is so far out of line in his use of private funds that it can only be deemed illegal. More to the point, private funds CANNOT be used to fund demolition or reconstruction of the physical building itself. Additionally, projects for personal interest, such as a ballroom, are also denied using private funds. What Trump is doing is criminal.
The White House is by design, tradition, and intent, the People’s House. The idea that the White House is “the People’s House” comes directly from the Founders’ republican ideals; the belief that the U.S. government should be of, by, and for the people, not a monarchy or aristocracy.
When George Washington and John Adams first discussed creating an executive residence, they rejected the term “palace”, which implied royal privilege. The President’s home was not to be considered a royal residence.
The 1792 congressional act authorizing construction of the President’s House specified it should be “suitable to the dignity of the office” but not excessive or monarchical. This distinction was deliberate: the building would symbolize public service, not personal power.
Trump wants to turn this distinction on its head.
From its earliest years, the White House was designed as public property, owned by the United States government — not by the president personally.
The first Presidential resident was John Adams. Writing to his wife Abigail he reflected, “May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.” This line, now inscribed in the State Dining Room, expresses that the building belongs to the republic, not the ruler.
Calling the White House “the People’s House” emphasizes that the president serves by the consent of the governed. The building symbolizes democratic transparency and civic participation. Its preservation and decor reflect national history, not personal taste or party power.
What Donald Trump is doing to the White House is an affront to these ideals. It is an attack on the concept of government by consent. He has rejected consent to demolish the East Wing at his whim. By charging ahead with this so-called Ballroom, he is giving self-governance in this country the middle finger. It is symbolic of his destruction of the Constitution. It tramples on the checks and balances within that document and it reflects that yes indeed, Donald Trump sees himself as a king.
