Restore the White House, and send the bill to Trump

Suppose I bulldozed somebody’s house, without his or her permission.

Hopefully I would be given due process, but if found guilty, part of my punishment would be to make restitution to the owner of the house. The atrocity that Donald Trump has perpetuated on the White House, which is “the people’s house,” not his, should not stand.

Any continuation of this project should cease immediately. This proposed vulgar, grandiose ballroom overwhelms the elegant but intentionally modest structure of the original building, and is an inappropriate symbol of a monarch, rather than a democracy, which this country hopes to remain. The only correct solution is to abandon this outlandish project and restore the White House to its previous condition.

This task should be taken on by those experts responsible for the preservation, renovation and restoration of historic government buildings. To those who believe that such a restoration would be impossible, I cite the restored Notre Dame Cathedral. Restitution for this crime should be borne by the perpetrator, Donald Trump. Returning the White House to its previous condition would symbolize our recommitment to the preservation of our nation as a democracy.

Paul and Lucille Windt

Allentown

Trump, GOP still have Obamacare in their sights

President Trump has been adamant about getting rid of the Affordable Care Act since our honorable Sen. John McCain displayed a thumbs-down on an attempt. During President Obama‘s two terms in the White House, Republicans voted to kill it more than 60 times, knowing that Obama would automatically veto the effort.

Long before President Trump, many Republican politicians talked of privatizing health care, and in my opinion, if opportunity presents itself, this is what the president will offer as his plan. Just think, he wouldn’t have to work on boring health care, just sell it and go back to sinking boats.

No more problems on that subject. How convenient!

Gloria Senavitis

Bethlehem

GOP positions don’t match Christian tenets

I applaud California Gov. Newsom calling out Vice President Vance for not following the Catholic tenets of feeding the poor in the context of the SNAP benefits debate, a tenet that’s fundamental to the teachings of the Christian Scriptures.

I would take it one step further and argue that the Republican positions on immigrants, health care, tax cuts, the death penalty, and social and economic justice overall don’t quite live up to the fundamental tenets of Christianity either.

Chris Lang

Bethlehem

GOP needs to return to center-right policies

As a Republican, I have some advice for Ryan Mackenzie and others planning to run in 2026. Stop being Donald Trump’s lackey and hoping his coattails will continue to make you successful. Please go back to the more traditional Republican centrist policies of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. Speak out against Trump’s crony capitalism and blatant use of the pardon and his office to enrich himself and his family, not to mention his gold gilding and destruction of the White House.

Our last election should be a wake-up call to all Republicans that the time is now to speak out and reclaim your party from the chaos of MAGA extremists. Until this happens, I will never be able to vote Republican again, since I can’t trust the values and character of individual candidates to know what they really believe and stand for beyond MAGA madness.

Jeffrey S. Titchenal

Lower Macungie Township

Veterans Day Your View perfectly expressed ambivalence to holiday

As a combat veteran drafted during the Vietnam era (1968-69), I can only say amen, brother, to Eric Fair’s Veterans Day opinion piece. My response to people who ask me about what it was like has evolved over the years from silence to “it was interesting, but I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Steve Jones

Emmaus

Gerrymandering doesn’t determine election results

A gerrymandered line doesn’t vote. People vote. Even if a former dominant Democratic area was remapped to become predominantly more Republican, there is no law that says a person has to vote for the party they are registered to. If after redistricting, a district has 100,000 Republican voters and 50,000 Democratic voters, and 26,000 Republican voters vote for the Democrat, the Democrat would win. People vote for the path they want to have succeed for their better health and welfare. People place votes. Not a line.

Debora Getz

Richland Township

Trump’s business sense is hurting our economy

It’s a shame the way President Trump, with his fixation with tariffs, is making our economy worse. In the corporate world, decisions start from the top. When the company doesn’t do well, the CEO gets replaced. I just don’t understand how a guy who went bankrupt so many times became our president. Here are some of the bankruptcies our president has been involved in through the years: Trump Steaks, Trump Taj Mahal casino, Trump Castle casino, Trump Plaza Hotel, Trump magazines, Trump Shuttle airline, the New Jersey Generals, Trump University and Trump Entertainment Resorts (in 2009 and 2014).

Now Trump is trying his failed ideas of “it’s my way or the highway.” He’s to blame for the shutdown because he doesn’t want to negotiate with Democrats on affordable health care for Americans. Maybe if he listened to some good advice, he might not have gone bankrupt so many times. In my opinion, he’s in this for himself and his family, not for the American people.

Emmanuel Glykas

Allentown

Rich Americans getting another tax break

The Morning Call edition of Nov. 12 included an article on page 14 that should have been on the front page.  

It was titled “Wealthy receiving more tax breaks.” It informed us that the IRS and the Treasury Department gutted a 2022 Biden-era law that ensured that the rich and profitable corporations pay their fair share of taxes. Plus, giving them opulent tax breaks. 

It’s hard for me to understand how any working folks still support President Trump.

Tom Sedor Sr.

Northampton

The Morning Call publishes letters from readers online and in print several times a week. Submit a letter to the editor at letters@mcall.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication.

https://www.mcall.com/2025/11/15/letters-trump-should-be-forced-to-pay-to-restore-the-peoples-house/