First lady Melania Trump announced Tuesday that the White House will begin offering public tours next month, following complaints from Republican and Democratic lawmakers who handle constituent requests for visits to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
“I am excited to reopen the White House to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year,” Trump said in a statement. “The White House is a remarkable and historic site and we are excited to share its beauty and history. I am committed to the restoration and preservation of our nation’s most recognizable landmark.”
The announcement comes just days after Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, urged the administration to resume the self-guided tours, which were put on pause during the transition process.
“Whoever monitors twitter at [the White House] for businessman president Trump ‘when is [the White House] going to be opened for public tours?’ Mrs. G wants to know,” Grassley tweeted, referring to his wife.
“Mrs G appreciates WH responding [to] my Twitter,” Grassley tweeted shortly after Trump’s announcement on Tuesday. “I’m positive distraught Iowans will be very happy [too].”
Mrs G appreciates WH responding 2my Twitter WH will open for public tours starting March 7 Im positive distraught Iowans will be very happy2
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) February 14, 2017
In addition to Grassley, a bipartisan group of lawmakers signed a letter this week noting that previous presidents had already “reopened the White House to the public at this point” in their administrations.
“At this point, we’re telling them that we’ll let them know,” a congressional aide told the Washington Post, noting that his office has received about 100 White House tour requests each week since President Trump took office.
The visitors office is set to reopen on March 7 and prospective tourists still must submit requests through their member of Congress, the White House said Tuesday.
