Is it illegal to tear down the white house as a historic structure?

Yes, it is effectively illegal for a private individual to tear down the White House. The White House is federal property, not the personal property of the President, and is protected under several federal laws, including statutes against willful damage to federal property.

While the White House is explicitly exempt from the Section 106 review process of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), other laws and historical norms require significant structural changes or demolition to have congressional approval and go through review processes with agencies like the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA).

Federal Property Law: The White House is owned by the federal government and managed by the National Park Service. Willful damage to federal property is a criminal offense under 18 U.S.C. § 1361.

In short, attempting to tear down the White House without following the established legal and political procedures would be a clear violation of federal law and precedent.