Democratic Lawmakers Urge Trump to Support Housing Legislation
Democratic lawmakers are calling on President Trump to back a proposal aimed at preventing private equity firms from purchasing single-family homes. This comes as he prepares to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos this week and address ongoing housing issues.
Trump recently shared on Truth Social his belief that homeownership—the “pinnacle of the American Dream”—is increasingly out of reach for young Americans. He suggested a ban on “institutional investors,” asserting that homes should belong to people, not corporations.
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), who helped draft the Stop Predatory Investments Act with Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and others, has expressed her intention to personally ask Trump for his support in pushing the bill forward.
Baldwin stated, “Wisconsin families should be buying homes in our neighborhoods, not large, wealthy out-of-state investors.” She criticized how large corporations have driven up housing costs, thereby making homeownership difficult for many families.
“President Trump should make good on his promise and support my plan to capitalize on Wisconsin communities and make housing more affordable for families,” Baldwin added.
While Trump hinted he would tackle housing issues in his remarks at the World Economic Forum—a gathering focused on global business and political interests—Baldwin’s bill has already been referred to the Senate Finance Committee after being introduced several months ago.
This legislation seeks to restrict large investment firms from purchasing multiple single-family homes and would remove tax benefits that incentivize such bulk buying. It specifically targets businesses and individuals buying 50 or more homes, denying them deductions for mortgage interest and depreciation that are typically available to individual homebuyers.
Baldwin has recently urged Trump in a letter to fulfill his promise to make homeownership more attainable by banning large institutional investors from purchasing these types of homes. She emphasized that this bill would combat the impact of Wall Street investors driving up prices and limiting access to homeownership.
The senator noted that private investments constituted a third of all single-family residential sales in the second quarter of 2025, marking the highest rate in five years. This trend poses serious challenges for the housing market, especially for first-time buyers, as large investors target affordable starter homes.
“Investors can turn these properties into rentals. This results in corporate landlords raising rents and often leads to evictions,” Baldwin explained. Interestingly, she expressed surprise at Trump’s public acknowledgment of the housing crisis.
Trump, however, has previously blamed Democrats for making homeownership unattainable, highlighting his presidency’s struggles with inflation.
Different Democrats reacted variably to Trump’s mention of the housing issue. For instance, Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized Trump’s efforts, stating, “This is just talk.” She has long advocated for limiting Wall Street’s influence on housing, insisting that action is necessary.
Baldwin took a more conciliatory approach, urging Trump to support the bipartisan Stop Predatory Investments Act. She emphasizes that this is a chance for Trump to make a significant impact on housing affordability.
In response to inquiries about Trump’s planned remarks on housing at Davos, White House Press Secretary Davis Ingle mentioned the administration’s dedication to improving affordability, especially in light of what he termed Biden’s economic failures. He indicated that Trump would soon announce new policy initiatives geared toward restoring the American dream of homeownership.
Fox News Digital has attempted to reach out to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) regarding Baldwin’s bill for further commentary.
