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The president gets to live there, but the White House actually belongs to the American people and starting March 7, they can start to take tours for the first time during Donald Trump's presidency. First lady Melania Trump said in a statement Tuesday she's looking forward to welcoming visitors. "I am excited to reopen the White House to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year. 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...

Next week Justin Timberlake, Al Green, Queen Latifah, and many others will perform at the White House in a "Memphis Soul" concert, the White House announced today. "As part of their 'In Performance at the White House' series, the President and First Lady will invite music legends and contemporary major artists to the White House for a celebration of Memphis Soul music. The program will include performances by Alabama Shakes, William Bell, Steve Cropper, Al Green, Ben Harper, Queen Latifah, Cyndi Lauper, Joshua Ledet, Sam Moore, Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples and Justin Timberlake, with Booker T. Jones as music director...

As spring break begins for schoolchildren across the country, thousands of students will travel to Washington, DC. The trips, funded by bake sales and other events throughout the year, will allow the students to take in Washington's historic landmarks. One premier destination is off-limits this year, however. A few weeks ago, the Obama Administration announced it was suspending public, self-guided tours of the White House as a result of the automatic sequester cuts that the administration proposed in 2011. While America's students stand outside the White House fence, the First Daughters, Sasha and Malia, are enjoying spring break with friends...

The Senate on Wednesday voted to leave the White House closed to public tours, instead leaving funding in place for government-promoted winery music, cookbooks, iPhone apps and winter festivals, according to Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn’s office.The amendment to reopen the White House for tours, which was introduced by the Oklahoma Republican, would have reduced National Heritage Area funding by $8.1 million and directed $6 million of the savings toward keeping the White House and other National Parks open. It failed by a 54-45 vote.“In effect, with this vote, the Senate decided the following activities which are promoted by the government-funded...

In an "exclusive" interview with ABC, Barack Obama on Wednesday dodged responsibility for the ending of White House tours, stating, "I have to say this was not a decision that went up to the White House." The President placed the responsibility on the Secret Service. Later in the day, press secretary Jay Carney contradicted Obama and admitted that the White House cancelled the tours. ABC's World News on Wednesday and Good Morning America on Thursday didn't bother to cover updates on Obama's denial. Appearing on the Washington D.C. radio show Mornings on the Mall, former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino...

Four days after slamming the doors of the White House closed, Barack "It's-not-my-fault" Obama says he's going to ask the Secret Service if to reconsider. Contradicting previous statements, Obama told George Stephanopoulos of ABC News this morning that neither he nor his staff had anything to do with closing the public out of the White House. This time, he threw the Secret Service under the bus. “I have to say this was not a decision that went up to the White House,” Obama said in the interview with Stephanopoulos. “But what the Secret Service explained to us was that they’re...

In the face of a public outcry, President Obama opened the door in an interview broadcast Wednesday to resuming White House tours -- after they were suspended in a decision purportedly meant to save the Secret Service money while it deals with sequester cuts. -snip- Obama, speaking with ABC News, tried to distance himself from the decision, pinning it on the Secret Service -- though other accounts have indicated both the Secret Service and White House had a role in the move.

President Obama says he's not the one who canceled the White House tours. He made the comments in an interview with ABC News. "[O]ne more question about the spending cuts," said the interviewer from ABC News. "You’ve been takin’ a lotta heat for this cancellation of the White House tours. They get– the Secret Service says it’s costs about $74,000 a week. Was canceling them really necessary?" "You know, I have to say this was not– a decision that went up to the White House. But th– what the Secret Service explained to us was that they’re gonna have to...

Mr. Chávez would have enjoyed the comparisons to Christ and Mr. Bolívar. "He wanted to be the Bolívar of the 21st century," said Enrique Krauze, a leading Mexican historian and author of "Redeemers," about Latin America's messianic caudillos, or charismatic political leaders. The late president often saw himself as a reincarnation of the 19th-century patriot who liberated five countries and sought to unite the former Spanish colonies, say former colleagues.

Whispers hears that staff aren't too pleased with the announcement Tuesday that the White House is canceling all future tours of the building due to sequestration, the across-the-board spending cuts that went into effect last Friday. White House staff members are now tasked with informing numerous spring and summer constituents who booked White House tours that the walk-throughs have been canceled. [OFFICIALS: Sequester to Bite Slowly] White House tours, which are actually self-guided and take place in the mornings on Tuesday through Saturday (except on federal holidays), are generally reserved through a constituent's congressman or congresswoman. The White House is...

Sorry, Washington-bound spring-breakers. Your White House tours have been canceled. The Obama administration announced Tuesday that it will cancel all tours starting this weekend, due to sequester cuts. The move prompted swift condemnation from Republican lawmakers, who described the decision as the latest attempt to make the sequester seem worse than it is. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/05/white-house-cancels-tours-citing-sequester/#ixzz2MhycOBzj

W.H. Closed for Sequestration Daniel Halper March 5, 2013 2:59 PM The White House sent out this email earlier today, announcing that it's close for sequestration: ATTN Interested Parties, Due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration, we regret to inform you that White House Tours will be canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013 until further notice. Unfortunately, we will not be able to reschedule affected tours. We very much regret having to take this action, particularly during the popular Spring touring season. For updates regarding this situation, please contact the White House Visitors Office 24 Hour Hotline at (202) 456-7041....

The White House announced Tuesday that it was canceling all public tours of the president’s home because of the sequester spending cuts.

The White House is cancelling all tours for visitors starting Sunday in an effort to save money during sequestration, a senior administration official confirmed to POLITICO. In an email sent to Republicans on Capitol Hill, the White House said: :Due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration, we regret to inform you that White House Tours will be canceled