Blumenthal Demands Answers from Secret Donors to Trump's White House Ballroom Project, Presses Donors on Potential Deals Made in Exchange for Undisclosed Contributions

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), demanded answers from donors to President Trump's ballroom project who had been kept secret by the White House.

Recent reporting has revealed that the White House omitted the names of several individuals and corporations on their publicly released list of donors to the ballroom project. In letters sent today to each of the donors kept anonymous by the White House, Blumenthal is seeking all documents, records, and communications related to their contributions to the White House ballroom project, including the terms of their donations and why it was not previously disclosed.

"Most recently, The New York Times identified several donors for the ballroom who had been kept secret by the White House, completely belying the Administration's claims of transparency, and raising serious questions about why the Administration and these donors sought to keep their donations a secret in the first place. You have been identified as one of the donors to this project who chose to remain anonymous," Blumenthal wrote in a letter to Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock Inc.

Blumenthal continued, "As one of the individuals or entities identified as a secret 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, why your donation was not publicly disclosed, and what President Trump or his representatives may have agreed to provide in exchange."

As PSI Ranking Member, Blumenthal has written to all donors previously made public by the White House. A compilation of those letters can be found here. Additionally, last week, Blumenthal wrote to the lead architect, construction firm, and engineering firm working on President Trump's ballroom project, seeking information about the contractors became involved in the project and the terms of their selection to participate. Letter to the contractors can be found here.

The full text of letters sent today to secret donors for the ballroom project is available here and below.

Dear Mr. Fink:

Since July 2025, President Trump has solicited $300 million in private donations to build what has been presented to donors and the public as "the President Donald J. Trump Ballroom."^[1] Despite assurances from the White House that President Trump has been "incredibly transparent" about the project, as well as a claim that the Administration had "released the full list of donors thus far,"^[2] critical details about the plans for the project have changed numerous times, including its total cost and scope.^[3] Most recently, the New York Times identified several donors for the ballroom who had been kept secret by the White House, completely belying the Administration's claims of transparency, and raising serious questions about why the Administration and these donors sought to keep their donations a secret in the first place.^[4] You have been identified as one of the donors to this project who chose to remain anonymous.^[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 your donation and why it was not previously disclosed.

When President Trump announced the ballroom project in July 2025, he assured the American public that the new ballroom "won't interfere with the current building. It'll be near it, but not touching."^[6] Yet last month-without advance notice to Congress or the public-the entire East Wing of the White House was demolished to make way for the new ballroom.^[7] 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.^[8]

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.^[9] Many questions remain about the fundraising for this project including amount of each contribution, the agreement reached with each contributor, what promises may have been or may yet be made in exchange for what presumably will be substantial contributions, and why the White House chose to allow donors to remain anonymous and then lie to the public about that fact.^[10] 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 as a secret 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, why your donation was not publicly disclosed, 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 new ballroom, please preserve all documents, records,^[11] and communications^[12] related to your contributions to the White House Ballroom project, and provide the following information by November 14, 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.
2. 1. Please identify the individual or individuals who solicited your donation, including the date(s) of any and all solicitations.
   1. Please describe the scope and nature of the discussions or negotiations with each individual listed.
3. What amount did you contribute to the White House Ballroom project?
4. 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?
   2. 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.
5. 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.
6. At what point did the White House offer you a choice for whether your name would appear on the list of donors released by the White House?
7. 1. Why did you choose to have your name remain anonymous?
8. 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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