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How to Get a Message to the President

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Whether you have a serious question for the President, or you just want to drop a line to say hello, there are several tried and true ways to contact the President of the United States. You can send a letter by regular mail, call the White House, use the White House website to send a message, or even use social media to contact POTUS. Be aware that you might never receive a response, and if you do, it will likely be from a staff member rather than the President himself.

Sample Letters to the President

  1. 1

    Write the letter respectfully. Regardless of your sentiments toward the President, or whether you're condemning or praising POTUS, remember that you're writing to the leader of the United States. Write an honest but respectful letter, stating your thoughts clearly and reasonably. Don't include any threats—overt or otherwise.

  2. 2

    Format the letter according to White House rules. The White House requests that you either type your letter on an 8.5 by 11 inch (21.6 cm by 27.9 cm) sheet of paper, or if you hand-write it, that you use ink and your most legible handwriting. Format it as you would a business letter, or any formal communication:[1]

    • Put your name and address, including your email address, at the top right corner of the letter, with the date written out below that.
    • Use a formal salutation, such as, "Dear Mr. President,"
    • Close with a formal salutation, such as, "Most Respectfully,"
    • Print and sign your name.

  3. 3

    Prepare the envelope. Fold your letter and insert it into the envelope. Add your return address to the top left corner of the envelope. Add a stamp to the top right corner of the envelope. Address the envelope to:[2]

    • The White House
      1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
      Washington, DC 20500

  4. 4

    Send it off. Seal the envelope and take it to your nearest Post Office, or slip it in the outgoing mail slot. You may get a response after about 6 months, though there is no guarantee, and it's likely you'll receive a form letter or communication from a White House staff member rather than a letter penned personally by the President.[3]

    • If you want to make sure your message actually makes it to the White House, add tracking to your letter when you send it at the Post Office.

  1. 1

    Pick up your phone and dial the White House. Dial one of the following numbers, depending on who you'd like to reach and what you'd like to say: for Comments, call 202-456-1111 (TTY/TTD 202-456-6213), or to reach the Switchboard, call 202-456-1414 (TTY/TTD Visitor's Office: 202-456-2121).[4]

    • The Comments line is answered by volunteers with the current administration.[5]
    • The Switchboard line is answered by White House staff members.[6]

  2. 2

    Follow any guidelines. When your call is answered, guidelines may be given by a person or automated program. Use your keypad to enter any extensions or information, as directed.[7]

  3. 3

    State your request. Ask to speak to the President or make another request. Though the President cannot likely take your call, you may be directed to someone else who will listen to your thoughts.[8]

    • If you are an expert in some field, and you wish to speak with the President, first contact the Cabinet member who would be responsible for that area. For example, an expert in teaching methods would need to contact the head of the Department of Education.

  4. 4

    Hang up when you're done. Press end, or hang up the telephone when you have finished giving your message or speaking to a representative.

  1. 1

    Go to WhiteHouse.gov/Contact. The White House staff requests that you use the form as shown to enter your comments online. You must enter the following required information:[9]

    • First name
    • Last name
    • Email address
    • Phone number
    • Home address

  2. 2

    Compose a message. The White House website gives you 2,500 characters or less to say your piece. You can share your personal story or bring up concerns you may have. Remember to maintain a respectful tone and use the appropriate salutations, such as "Dear Mr. President," and "Most Respectfully, Jane Jennings."[10]

  3. 3

    Send your message. Click to check or uncheck the box to enable updates from the White House and/or a response to your letter. Then, simply click "Send" to submit your message.[11]

  1. 1

    Log in to your social media account. You can use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube to contact the White House or the President.[12]

    • If you don't already have an account, sign up for a free account and follow the instructions.
    • Be aware that the President may not have time to respond to your message, though you may be contacted by a member of his staff.

  2. 2

    Compose your message. Write your message carefully and considerately. Avoid using inappropriate language or threats of any kind. Depending on the social media site, you can post using hashtags or handles to get your message to the President, or post directly on the President's page or site.[13]

    • For Twitter, your message must be 280 characters or less. Post your message and use the President's handle to get the message to him. You can either use @WhiteHouse, @POTUS, or @JoeBiden to get the message to him in the tweet.[14]
    • For Facebook, go to https://www.facebook.com/WhiteHouse, https://www.facebook.com/POTUS/, or https://www.facebook.com/joebiden/.
    • For Instagram, go to https://www.instagram.com/joebiden/.
    • For YouTube, go to https://www.youtube.com/user/whitehouse or https://www.youtube.com/joebiden.

  3. 3

    Use handles or hashtags to get your message to the President. Use the handles @WhiteHouse and/or @POTUS, or the hashtags #WhiteHouse and/or #POTUS. While the President's official personal handle might no longer be relevant after future elections and inaugurations, the White House and POTUS handles and hashtags transfer to the current president.[15]

  4. 4

    Click the "Send" button to post your message. After you've composed your message and added the appropriate handles or hashtags, if necessary, you can send your message.

Add New Question

  • Question

    How will I get to meet the POTUS?

    Community Answer

    You will have to talk with the congressman/woman who represents your congressional district, and then go through a three-month background check. Then you may qualify to meet the POTUS, and maybe the First Lady as well.

  • Question

    Will I get a faster response using email or regular mail?

    Community Answer

    You will get a faster response using email then regular mail.

  • Question

    What is the fastest way to contact the White House?

    Community Answer

    Use the White House website to send a message to the President. The site even states that this is the fastest way to contact POTUS.

  • Question

    When you contact the president, does he respond himself or does a representative respond?

    Community Answer

    In most cases, a staff member will respond. In very special cases, the President himself may respond.

  • Question

    Are any correspondences I send to the president available to the public?

    Community Answer

    It depends on how you send your correspondence. Using social media makes your message available to the public. Sending a letter by regular mail keeps your information private. However, be aware that White House staff members will have access to your message, and if you send something inappropriate or threatening, other agencies are likely to get involved.

  • Question

    Are these numbers real?

    Community Answer

    Yes, they are real. Call the number listed and you will be able to speak to a staff member at the White House.

  • Question

    Will the President talk to me if I call the switchboard number?

    Community Answer

    Probably not. Unless the President has a special reason to speak to you, you will probably get a staff member instead.

  • Question

    Would I be able to contact the President of the United States through Instagram's direct messaging feature?

    Community Answer

    Yes, but it would be very unlikely you would get in contact with the president himself. You will most likely get a response from a staff member, or no response at all.

  • Question

    How is the President going to reply to my message?

    Community Answer

    Generally, the president replies to messages with a default letter thanking citizens for taking the time to write and reminding them that the administration was elected to work for the people. Therefore, you should expect to see some sort of reply to that effect.

  • Question

    How can I get the President to come to my school?

    Community Answer

    You can formally invite him by contacting him via letter and giving him your school's address. Make sure that your principal and teachers agree, but don't be disappointed if he doesn't come. He is a very busy man.

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  • Do not expect to reach the President himself unless there is some special reason that he would want to speak to you. You will probably speak with a staff member, and most correspondence to the President is also handled by a staff member.

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  • Please be aware that you may not get a reply from the President or his staff.

  • Keep your letter, message, or call polite, professional, and appropriate. If it is judged to be threatening in any way, chances are very high that you will end up being investigated. Even if you're not a US citizen, you can suffer consequences, like being forbidden from entering the country, including permanently.

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To contact the President of the United States, send a letter addressed to the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500. You can also try calling the White House by dialing 202-456-1111 and asking to speak with the President, although you may be directed to someone else. Also, you can submit a comment to the White House by visiting whitehouse.gov/contact. If all else fails, try tweeting at the President by including the handle @POTUS at the end of your tweet. If you want to learn what tone to use when you reach out to the President, keep reading!

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How to Get a Message to the President

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Contact-the-President-of-the-United-States

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