How to Call, Write, or Email the White House

Write your letter to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. If you write your letter by hand, be neat. You can also type and print your letter—it’s totally up to you. Write an honest and respectful letter, stating your thoughts clearly and reasonably.^[1] The full address is:

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

Format the letter according to the White House rules. Use 8.5 by 11 in (22 by 28 cm) paper. If you’re going to handwrite the letter, use black ink and skip the fancy gel pens. Format your letter the same way you’d format a business letter.^[2]

• 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.

Include a stamped return envelope and send your letter. If you want the President to reply to you, give them the return envelope they’ll need. Put you return address to the top left corner and put a stamp on the top right corner. On the return envelope, flip that and put your address in the middle.^[3]

• Take your letter to the nearest mailbox and ship it off!

Dial 1-202-456-1111 to leave a comment for the President. The public comment line is designed for citizens who want to share an opinion or idea with the President. It’s run by volunteers who will record whatever you share and then send it to the relevant party (in your case, the President!).^[4]

• If you are an expert in some field and seriously want to talk to the President, reach out to the relevant Cabinet first. For example, an expert in teaching methods would need to contact the head of the Department of Education.

Call 1-202-456-1414 to contact the White House’s switchboard. In theory, you’re only supposed to use this number if you have an extension or you’re on official business. But who’s to say you can’t give this number a shot if you want to speak to someone important? ^[5]

• While a White House employee will pick up the phone if you can get through the robo menus, you aren’t going to have any luck getting Joe Biden on the phone.

Call 1-202-456-6213 if you require TTY accommodations. If you’re hard of hearing or you need transcript services, this is the number for you. It’s likely run by the folks in the switchboard room, but they’ll probably help you leave a comment.^[6]

• There’s also the White House visitor’s office number, which is 202-456-2121, but that’s unlikely who you want to contact unless you have questions about a tour.

Visit the official White House Contact Page. This is probably the most efficient way to get a message across since the White House actively requests you use the online contact page. It’s also just faster, too. Open the contact page and enter the following information:^[7]

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

Compose your message in the box at the bottom and send it. The White House website gives you about 300 words to say your piece. You can share your personal story, bring up concerns you may have, or even tell Mr. Biden your favorite knock knock joke. Remember to use the appropriate salutations, such as “Dear Mr. President,” and “Most Respectfully, Jane Jennings.”^[8]

• Make sure that under “Message Type” it says, “Contact the President.” You can also use this page to reach out to the Vice President, or ask a general question.

Check out that Presidential Greeting form if you want a letter from the President. If you’re here just because you want to prove you talked to the President, or you want the President to send your loved one a congratulatory note, you’re in luck. In that “Message Type” box, select “Request a Presidential Greeting.” You’ll be redirected to a new form. There, select the occasion and enter your personal details to ask the President to send you a letter.^[9]

• The odds are extremely high the letter you’ll get is just an autogenerated form letter, but hey, that’ll be our little secret.

Log in to your preferred social media account. You can use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube to contact the White House or the President. If you don’t already have an account, sign up for a free account.^[10]

• Be aware that the President may not have time to personally respond to your message. You can totally get the attention of a staffer, though.

Send a message to the President’s account. 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, send a DM, or post directly on the President’s page or site.^[11]

• For Twitter, you can either use @WhiteHouse, @POTUS, or @JoeBiden.^[12]
• There are actually 3 different Facebook options: The White House, POTUS, or Joe Biden’s Personal Account.
• On Instagram, message Joe Biden. There is no rotating POTUS account like there is on other platforms.
• For YouTube, you can message the White House or Joe Biden’s channel.