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Request tickets now: How to visit the White House at Christmastime

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We have a long (and always growing) list of trips we want to take, from which we create and build our travel dreams. One dream that had been shining at the top of the list for quite some time was a Christmas visit to the White House. We love the holidays, and -- politics and partisanship aside -- admire the elegance and importance of the White House. We knew visiting while it is decked in its holiday finest would be a memorable treat.

But, as we have discovered in the past, wanting to visit the White House and getting to visit the White House are two very different things. Before we get to the holiday magic we saw inside The People's House, let's look at what it takes to get in the door.

How to visit the White House

To arrange a White House visit , you need to contact the office of your congressional representative. Requests can be submitted up to three months in advance of your anticipated travel dates, which means you may be booking your trip to DC before you know if you will get approved for a White House visit. However, the sooner you apply the better, because the tours only allow a limited number of people each day. If you want to take a tour at Christmastime, send in your request in September.

Your chances of securing a tour spot will be better if you can designate multiple days on your trip when you would be available for a tour. Once the request is submitted by the office of your representative, White House Tours will contact you for security information. Unfortunately for advance planners, the outcome of your request won't be known until 10 to 14 days before your date(s). If the White House visit is only a part of a planned DC visit, then it may not be a big deal. But if a White House tour is the sole or primary reason for your trip, that late notice could create some last-minute adjustments to your plans. Tours are typically scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tours are free, but subject to change due to White House scheduling and events that cannot be foreseen.

Planning our holiday White House visit

The official White House Christmas tree is usually delivered the day after Thanksgiving, when decorating the property for Christmas is in full swing. The seasonal décor is ready for public viewing a few days after Thanksgiving. Our request for a Christmastime tour was submitted on Sept. 10 for a Dec. 11, 12 or 13 visit. We found out via email on Friday, Nov. 30 that we were approved and accepted for our visit.

With that approval in hand, we found a cheap Spirit Airlines flight into Baltimore for $64. Normally, we would have used 5,000 Spirit miles to cover the fare, but because we were so close to our travel date, reward booking fees were more than the actual cost of the flight, so that strategy didn't work. Thankfully, there are plenty of affordable hotels in Baltimore using points or cash. Since we arrived pretty late in the evening, we just booked a decent cash rate at the Aloft BWI Baltimore Airport and rested for the night. The same hotel (a Category 3 Marriott property) can be booked for 17,500 Marriott points.

Once we headed to Washington, DC, we stayed at to the Hyatt Place White House, which we have visited in the past. It is within easy walking distance to the White House, includes free breakfast and only costs 15,000 World of Hyatt points per night. The nearby Grand Hyatt Washington is also a good choice at 15,000 World of Hyatt points per night, especially if you have access to its club lounge (which our daughter, Mommy Points, has scored for us on some trips). Either could be booked with a Hyatt Category 1–4 award from the World of Hyatt Credit Card, though we just used points earned from that card on this trip.

To avoid spending extra time, money and an additional night in the DC area, we ponied up $200+ each for a United nonstop evening flight home from Washington National directly to our home airport in Houston. It wasn't a great deal financially, but maximized our time and energy during the busy holiday season.

Visiting the White House at Christmas

As the precious few days passed from our approval to our departure, we held our breath that our tour would not be affected by a Christmas cancellation. Even as we approached the tour entrance, we kept one eye out for unusual Secret Service movement and the other eye scanning our phone looking for breaking news that might bear bad tidings. Fortunately, we were greeted by an open gate and a welcoming gesture and into the line we went.

The Secret Service officer checked our IDs and cross-checked the master list to verify if we were indeed on "the nice list." Three additional screenings later and we were ready to enter the White House.

The tour enters from the East Wing, where we passed through a hallway that led to the first of many grand Christmas trees. The initial tree was dedicated to the Gold Star families of our armed forces and was decorated in red and blue ribbons and rich gold ornaments.

As we turned the corner, we came up the East Colonnade, which was lined on both sides with bright red berry trees of varying heights naturally lit by the multiple large windows that look out into the Kennedy Garden. The trees had received some unfavorable reviews when first introduced, and we were curious as to what our impression would be in person. When standing in front of the trees, we found them to be colorful, festive and appropriate for the season. A muted green carpet provided a seasonal balance to the somewhat narrow walkway. Judging by the number of photos being taken of the trees, they seem to be a hit with the crowd. Fortunately, cameras (with some limitations) are permitted on the White House tour.

The next interesting encounter was the display of official White House Christmas cards from presidents over the past 91 years. Sixteen administrations were covered; their choices reflected not only each president's personal style and attitude, but also graphically illustrated the number of Christmases each experienced as the leader of our country. Eisenhower, Reagan, Bush 43, Clinton and Obama all had eight cards. Johnson and Nixon had five, Carter and Bush 41 had four, Ford had three, Kennedy only two and Trump also had two. We found this exhibit to be a poignant and educational history lesson with a direct seasonal correlation.

After this point we physically entered the White House proper and enjoyed rooms with familiar names: the China Room, the Vermeil Room and the Library. Of these three, the Library was my personal favorite. The room emitted a warm and comfortable glow, and one could easily imagine a classic Christmas carol playing quietly in the background.

Next, we ascended to the state floor via a significant wooden stairway to the East Room, the largest and most utilized room in the Executive Mansion. It has been the site of press conferences, Medal of Honor presentation ceremonies, entertainment, weddings, funerals and even a senior prom. Large chandeliers, grandiose garlanded mirrors and gold-hued drapes elegantly highlighted the room while two 14-foot fir trees flanked a traditional Nativity scene that was in its 51st year of display. The East Room traditionally is quite spacious and open with few furnishings.

After exiting the East Room, the famous Red, Green and Blue rooms were only steps away. The Green Room now serves as a parlor for small receptions. Its decorative theme for the holidays illustrated and highlighted the great work ethic of American farmers and the fruits of their labor. Harvested produce, grains and nuts were found in the garland on the mantle, the boughs of the tree and as accents on the tables.

The oval-shaped Blue Room is an elegant, handsome and inviting space that most would love to have in their own homes. It occupies the center of the White House, and its windows look out onto the South Lawn and toward the Washington and Jefferson monuments. The Blue Room is often used by the president to receive guests, but during Christmastime, this room proudly plays host to the official White House Christmas tree. When viewing the White House from outside, the 18-foot North Carolina-grown Fraser fir is easily seen through the South Portico.

The Blue Room just feels like what I think of when I envision the best of America, and the tree there was decorated to enhance this ambience. A long continuous blue velvet ribbon curled itself throughout the tree with the names of all the states and territories proudly embroidered with a rich gold thread. Red and gold ornaments filled the green branches that reached toward and touched the ornate ceiling medallion.

(As an aside, the Blue Room, due to its shape and position in The White House, might lead an outsider to assume this is where the Oval Office must be located. In reality, the Oval Office is not in the White House proper, but down in the West Wing in an area not visible to the public.)

The Red Room's bold color grabs your total attention as you enter its doorway. The centerpiece tree was adorned with ornaments depicting popular activities of American youth ranging from sports to drama to music. The contrast of the white Italian marble fireplace and mantle with the red, green and white garland spray was simply stunning and, in keeping with the spirit of the tree, fun.

A meal is sadly not included in the White House tour, but, if it was, the State Dining Room would be the logical place for it to be served. It can accommodate over 100 guests, but my blue jeans likely would have needed a serious upgrade. Eagles support the furniture and topped the trees in homage to one of our national symbols. A large edible gingerbread creation sat under one of the classic White House mirrors and depicted famous monuments and structures on the National Mall. The piece was made with almost 400 pounds of ingredients by the pastry team.

And, if the White House had not already impressed you enough with its Christmas trappings, when we passed the Kennedy portrait into the Entrance and Cross halls, we came upon an indoor forest of Christmas treasure.

Thousands of red ornaments lined the hallway and graced the trees' deep green branches. The scene was so rich with Christmas spirit that we fully expected Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney to come out from behind the trees singing "White Christmas" at any second. The projected light on the ceiling added sparkle and pizzazz to a room that was already a full holiday palette. The presidential seal rising above the multilayered décor was a popular photo op for all.

This space was about 2,500 square feet of elegance and color. It was hard to absorb it all in the time allotted, but easy to love. We were the last two to leave for the day, and we lingered and looked as much as we could. We could have easily spent longer reflecting on all we had seen, but the business of the White House had to go on.

It was such a privilege and thrill to tour "The People's House" at Christmas. Even though we are very common people, we felt special because we had this opportunity. It was a great Christmas gift, indeed.

Other holiday sights in Washington, DC

The White House tour was the reason for the trip, but since we were there, we also took full advantage of some other DC Christmas traditions and offerings that we would recommend to others, including visiting the trees at the US Capitol, the Supreme Court and Union Station.

The United States Botanic Garden had a beautiful display of scale model monuments made entirely of plant material. The same artistic skill and methods were used to build the famous American train depots that were central to the garden's themed "All Aboard" model train exhibit.

We spent part of one evening at the National Christmas Tree located on The Ellipse between the White House and Washington Monument. The tree is surrounded by 56 smaller trees that border a winding walkway and represent each state and territory. Trains are also an integral part of the National Tree display, with multiple sets surrounding the tree's base. Live entertainment is frequently offered, and at dusk, the atmosphere is magical as the red and green lights of the tree glow in the foreground with either the lights of the White House or the evening sky in the background.

Overall, we were blessed with good weather, grand sights and memorable moments. We departed for the trip full of Christmas spirit and came back with even more.

And as an epilogue, our congressman was, coincidentally, on our Thursday evening flight home and our window seat paid dividends as we witnessed two shooting stars as we looked to the north. Or perhaps it was Santa making some practice runs before the big day? Anything is possible.

How Can I Tour the White House in Washington, DC?

Everything you need to know about planning a visit to the country’s most famous house., requesting a white house tour.

Touring the White House requires some advance planning. Public tour requests must be made through your member of Congress ( find your member of Congress and contact information ) and submitted up to three months in advance and no less than 21 days prior to your visit. If you're an international visitor and wish to schedule a tour, please contact your home country’s embassy in Washington, DC.

You are encouraged to submit your tour request as early as possible as tours fill up quickly and a limited number of spaces are available. Tours are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. All White House tours are free. Please note tours are subject to last-minute cancellations based on the official White House schedule.

Public, self-guided tours are 45 minutes and are run between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays unless otherwise noted. For complete details on White House tours, visit the White House tours and events page or call the White House Visitors Office 24-hour information line at (202) 456-7041. The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Touring the White House - Washington, DC

What to expect on a White House tour

If there is a tour slot available during your visit to DC, you will be given a specific date and time to arrive and be instructed on where to check in. All guests over 18 years old will be required to present a valid, government-issued photo ID upon check-in. Foreign nationals must present their passport. Please bring as little as possible (avoid backpacks, food, large handbags, bottled water, etc.). Note that smartphones and compact cameras with a lens no longer than 3 inches are permitted on the public tour route, but video recording devices and flash photography are not allowed inside the White House. Visitors will go through security prior to entering the White House. There are no restrooms available at the White House. The closest restroom is located at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion nearby.

Public tours of the White House include the public rooms in the East Wing, which includes the Blue Room, Red Room and Green Room; the State Dining Room; the China Room; and a view of the White House Rose Garden. Secret Service members are stationed in each room and are available to answer questions about the history and architecture of each room.

You can also visit the White House Visitor Center   before or after your tour.

Stephen Melkisethian

How to get to the White House

The closest Metro stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (Blue and Orange lines), Metro Center (Blue, Orange and Red lines) and McPherson Square (Blue and Orange lines). Please note there is NO PARKING near the White House. Public transportation is strongly encouraged.

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How to tour the White House Garden

Another opportunity to visit the White House is to attend either its fall or spring garden tour. Check whitehouse.gov in early October and April. The announcement of the garden tours is usually made within a week or two of when they take place. Garden tours generally run for two consecutive days. They may be canceled due to poor weather. A ticket is required for all attendees (including small children). Usually, tickets are distributed by the National Park Service at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion on 15th and E streets NW on each tour day beginning at 9 a.m. Review the announcement for specific details.

Will I still be able to see the White House without going on a tour?

While visitors are not allowed entry to the White House without requesting a tour through your congressional representative, you will still be able to see the White House from Pennsylvania Avenue NW at Lafayette Square and view the White House and the South Lawn from the Ellipse. Please note that a new fence is currently under construction at the White House, as the current 6-foot fence is being replaced by a stronger, wider fence that will be 13 feet.

Where can I store my belongings during the tour?

It is important to note that security at the White House is extremely high. If your hotel is nearby, we suggest leaving your belongings in your room during the tour. If this is not possible, there are a few other options. You can designate one member of your tour group to hold everyone’s belongings. That person can take the self-guided tour once his or her group has finished the tour.

If you're a ticketed Amtrak customer, you may be able to check luggage in advance at  Union Station . These are located near Gate A. Lockers are available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. A photo ID is required and lockers must be paid for via cash or credit in advance. Rates are $3-$6 per hour per bag depending on the size of your bag. For questions on bag storage, please call 202-906-3000.

Catch up on White House history with the free podcas t The 1600 Sessions and enhance your trip with the  White House Experience app  from the White House Historical Association. The app offers three tour experiences, including a virtual tour of the White House (with rooms you normally don't see on the tour), a neighborhood walking tour and a room-by-room guide for visitors on an in-person tour of the White House.

Now that you have read up on the White House, explore DC’s other awesome  monuments and memorials .

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The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500

The White   House Announces 2022 Public   Tours

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is pleased to announce public tours of the White House will begin on Friday, April 15, 2022.  Public tours will initially be available from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, excluding Federal holidays or unless otherwise noted. All White House tours are free of charge. The White House tour schedule is subject to change based on inclement weather or official use.

PUBLIC WHITE HOUSE TOUR REQUESTS

Public tour requests are scheduled on a first come, first served basis and must be submitted through a Member of Congress and their Congressional Tour Coordinator. Constituents may reach your Member of Congress and Congressional Tour Coordinator through the U.S. House of Representative’s Switchboard at 202-225-3121, the U.S. Senate Switchboard at 202-224-3121, or online at www.congress.gov/members .

Consistent with prior practices, public White House tour requests must be submitted a minimum of 21 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance of the requested tour date(s). Reservations cannot be accepted for tour dates outside this 21 – 90-day window. Congressional Tour Coordinators will be able to submit tour requests beginning Monday, March 21, 2022. 

The White House will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation with guidance based on recommendations from the CDC, and other public health officials and medical experts, and reserves the right to adjust availability of the public tours as necessary to adhere to the latest health guidance. Within the 10 days prior to the public tour, anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, has had any COVID-19 symptoms, or been in close contact with someone confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19, should stay home. Face masks will be available when entering the White House complex for those who choose to wear them.

Information regarding additional springtime events at the White House, including the Spring Garden Tours and the White House Easter Egg Roll, will be released in the coming days. 

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Kishida cracks jokes and invokes ‘Star Trek’ as he and Biden toast US-Japan alliance at state dinner

President Joe Biden listens as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks ahead of a toast during a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden makes a toast with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden, center right, and first lady Jill Biden, right, welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center left, and his wife Yuko Kishida for a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Kristi Yamaguchi, right, and Yukiko Saegusa arrive at the Booksellers area of the White House for the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and wife Kishida Yuko, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, arrive at the Booksellers area of the White House for the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and wife Kishida Yuko, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose for a photo with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida by the Grand Staircase in the Cross Hall of the White House during a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Evan Ryan, Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary, arrive at the Booksellers area of the White House for the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and wife Kishida Yuko, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen arrive at the Booksellers area of the White House for the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and wife Kishida Yuko, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Tables are decorated during a press preview at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, for the State Dinner for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

FILE - This April 2, 2012 file photo shows singer Paul Simon performing at Avery Fisher Hall in New York, April 2, 2012. Simon will sing for guests at Wednesday’s White House state dinner for Japan. The White House says he’s one of first lady Jill Biden’s favorite musicians. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File)

Former President Bill Clinton listens to toast by President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida exchanged warm toasts to each other and the close alliance between their nations as top figures from business, sports and politics looked on during Wednesday night’s state dinner.

Top figures from business, sports and politics turned up for a lavish state dinner honoring Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The White House on Wednesday served up a maximum dose of pomp to honor the close U.S. ally.

After a day of wide-ranging talks and a joint news conference, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and wife Yuko Kishida back to the White House Wednesday evening for a lavish state dinner.

US President Joe Biden and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida enjoyed a dinner out in Washington DC on Tuesday evening.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida cracked jokes and invoked a touchstone of American culture as he quoted from “Star Trek” at Wednesday’s state dinner , telling guests at the White House that he hoped the “unshakable relationship” between his country and the U.S. would “boldly go where no one had gone before.”

“I would like to propose a toast to our voyage to the frontier of the Japan-U.S. relationship with this word: boldly go,” Kishida said, quoting the iconic opening monologue of the original “Star Trek” series.

Kishida, who spoke in English, and President Joe Biden exchanged warm toasts to each other and the decades-long, alliance between their nations as top figures from business, sports and politics — including an ex-president — looked on. The two leaders, who expressed a genuine friendship, pledged to continue to knit together their countries’ interests in the face of global challenges.

Biden , 81, said he and Kishida, 66, came of age as their countries forged a strong bond in the decades after they were pitted against each other in World War II.

“We both remember the choices that were made to forge a friendship,” Biden said. “We both remember the hard work, what it has done to find healing.”

“Tonight,” Biden continued, “We pledge to keep going.”

As the White House served up a maximum dose of pomp to honor its close U.S. ally, notable guests included Bill and Hillary Clinton, who were on familiar turf for the event. The former president declared it “feels great” to be back before casting an appreciative eye at a portrait of his wife from her first lady days that was on display nearby.

Guests in bright spring colors and lots of shimmery gowns chatted politics and talked shop as they strolled in — that meant eclipse chatter from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson (“fabulous” view in Ohio!) and an assessment of Biden’s electoral prospects in Wisconsin from Gov. Tony Evers (looking good!).

But on a day when the inflation news from Washington was less than encouraging, Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell shot past reporters without stopping to chat. Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, in a purple gown, said she didn’t expect to be out campaigning for Biden but nonetheless seemed bullish on his reelection. Actor Robert De Niro supplied the night’s Hollywood quotient and seemed to channel one of his tough-talking characters when he was asked for his thoughts about the 2024 election.

“What do you think?” he retorted.

On a warm spring evening, the Bidens came stepped onto the North Portico to welcome Kishida and his wife, Yuko, who stood out in a flowing royal blue gown on the red carpet.

Inside, Jill Biden , wearing a beaded sapphire gown, had transformed the State Floor of the White House into what she called a “vibrant spring garden” for the evening. The floor of the famous Cross Hall was decorated with images giving the nearly 230 guests the feel of walking over a koi pond, a nod to fish that symbolize “friendship, peace, luck and perseverance,” the first lady said at a media preview Tuesday.

Guests at the head table with the Bidens and Kishidas included the Clintons, De Niro and Japanese pop duo Yoasobi.

Kishida, in his toast at the dinner, enthused over the splendor.

“First and foremost, to be honest my breath is taken and I’m speechless in front of such a huge number of prominent American and Japanese guests,” he said.

A state dinner is a tool of U.S. diplomacy, an honor doled out sparingly and only to America’s closest allies. In the case of Japan, the president has granted that honor for just the fifth time to an ally that he sees as a cornerstone of his policy toward the Indo-Pacific region.

Kishida is on an official visit to the United States this week. The state dinner is Biden’s first this year.

The guests included plenty of Biden family members, including granddaughter Naomi and her husband, Peter Neal. Business moguls also were in force, including JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Labor luminaries United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain and United Steelworkers President David McCall were also in attenddance. Both unions have endorsed Biden for reelection.

Dry-aged rib eye steak, cherry blossoms and the music of Paul Simon were also part of the evening. Simon opened his after-dinner performance by playing guitar and singing two of his major hits, “Graceland” and “Slip Slidin’ Away.”

Guests dined on a meal that was designed to highlight the “bounty of spring” in Japan and the United States: a first course of house-cured salmon that was inspired by a California roll and an entree of rib eye with shishito pepper butter, fava beans, mushrooms and onions. Dessert was salted caramel pistachio cake with a matcha ganache and cherry ice cream.

Some of Jill Biden’s favorite flowers, including sweet peas, roses and peonies, were arranged alongside imported cherry blossoms to decorate a mix of round and rectangular dinner tables in the East Room in shades of pink. A few floral centerpieces topped out at 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall.

Tables were set with a mix of place settings representing the administrations of Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and George W. Bush. Glass and silk butterflies danced over the tables.

Simon is one of Jill Biden’s favorite artists, the White House said, adding that she chose him as a special tribute to Kishida because the prime minister also admires his music.

Simon’s career spans six decades, including performing as part of a duo with his childhood friend Art Garfunkel. The 82-year-old New Jersey native has earned numerous accolades, including multiple Grammys and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Kishida is the fifth world leader Biden has honored with a state dinner following counterparts from France , South Korea , India and Australia .

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Parent item expand the sub menu, ralph lauren on his new furniture line and what makes a home, balenciaga’s city bag makes a fashion comeback, nike brings brand power to paris ahead of olympics, lauren sanchez marries sensuality and coquette trends in lace rasario dress at white house state dinner for japan with fiancé jeff bezos.

Sánchez accompanied fiancé Jeff Bezos to the formal event.

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Lauren Sánchez was among the bevy of high-profile guests who attended the White House state dinner for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida on Wednesday. Sánchez was accompanied by her fiancé Jeff Bezos for the event.

For the formal occasion, Sánchez fashioned a lace and satin corset maxi dress by Rasario from the 2024 resort collection. The burgundy gown featured lightweight satin with two types of lace for the ornately sculpted figure with corset inserts. The Rasario dress also featured an off-the-shoulder neckline highlighting Sánchez’s décolletage and collarbones.

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Founded in 2012 by Rasida Lakoba, Rasario’s designs emphasize sensuality and femininity. Those very elements of Rasario’s designs have been featured in several of the formal looks Sánchez has fashioned in the past, including her 2024 Vanity Fair Oscars Party ensemble. Focusing on fit and the ways in which fabric and form complement Sánchez’s approach to fashion.

White House State Dinner for Japan Hosted By Joe & Jill Biden Fetes Star-Studded Guest List: All the Looks

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden’s state dinner for Japan is the fifth the couple has hosted at the White House since President Biden took office in January 2021. The event included a bevy of high-profile guests, including Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen, and Bill and Hillary Clinton.

See more of what the guests wore in the gallery below:

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White House Tour - What to do with Purses/Cameras - Washington DC Forum

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White House Tour - What to do with Purses/Cameras

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As with most people visiting the city, we will be there they whole day and will be sightseeing, so it's very difficult for my friend & I to leave our purses behind.

Any ideas of where we could store these items while doing the tour? My initial inclination was to find out if the Smithsonian (or other museum) closest to the White House might have lockers that we can use. But, if anyone else has a suggestion, I'd appreciate it. I can't be the first person stumped by the White House tour restrictions!

You're not, there is plenty of discussion on it, including at least on thread from just last week.

You can always go through one at a time and have your friend hold your things and vice versa, some have reported success doing that.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28970-i40-k3999207-Storage_near_White_House_or_on_Metro_line-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28970-i40-k3952342-What_to_do_with_bags_when_visiting_the_white_house-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28970-i40-k3807128-White_House_security-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28970-i40-k3545829-l25509169-White_house_tour-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html#25509169

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28970-i40-k3173098-Where_to_store_belongings-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28970-i40-k3163689-l22338827-White_House_visit-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html#22338827

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28970-i40-k3113330-Place_to_store_belongings_during_WH_tour-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Modi’s White House visit highlights deep diaspora divides

Many South Asian Americans have mixed feelings as they prepare themselves for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s state visit to the White House this week. 

As some get ready to gather in Washington, D.C., both to welcome and protest him, data from a 2021 study underscores just how torn the diaspora is when it comes to the controversial leader — and it shows that his popularity among Indian Americans falls short of how he is received in India. 

This week marks Modi’s first official state visit to the U.S., which had not invited an Indian prime minister since 2009. Modi was once banned from the U.S. for the role he allegedly played in the deadly Gujarat riots , in which 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, were killed.

For many community leaders, a historic moment is severely marred by that and other aspects of Modi’s human rights record, including censoring journalists and stripping autonomy from the region of Kashmir .

“For this kind of a ruler to be invited to a state dinner by an American president and to be given an opportunity to speak to a joint session of Congress, where he’s going to talk about the ideals of democracy, is just mind-boggling,” said Ajit Sahi, the advocacy director for the Indian American Muslim Council. 

The study, conducted by the Carnegie Endowment, found that Modi’s approval rating is much lower among Indian Americans (50%) than among Indians living in India (77%). Dozens of lawmakers in both houses of Congress signed a letter urging President Joe Biden to address human rights concerns with Modi during his visit.

“This is an important relationship that we need to continue and build on as it relates to human rights,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing last month .

Sahi said that though Hindu nationalist sentiment in diaspora communities cannot be ignored, he thinks college-educated young people who grew up in the U.S. are distancing themselves from Modi’s politics. 

“The American values of liberalism, progressivism, equality for all, justice for all, equality before the law, I think these are the things that more or less get deeply rooted in the psyche, especially if you were born and raised here,” he said. 

But the diaspora in the U.S. is still split down the middle in terms of support for Modi. According to the study, 49% of Indian Americans rate his performance favorably, either strongly approving or approving of him; 31% disapprove of his performance; and 20% expressed no opinion on him at all. 

“It’s a polarized space,” said Sunita Viswanath, a co-founder of the civil rights group Hindus for Human Rights. “There’s very little scope for bridge-building. ... On the one hand, you have this mainstream Hindu response, which is that India’s national leader is coming to town and is being greeted by the American president with a state dinner, and that puts India on the map.”

On the other hand, those in minority religions and castes oppressed in India say the visit feels as though the U.S. is validating the structural bias their families face, Viswanath said. Many in diaspora spaces say that bias has followed them . 

“Inclusive secular democracy means the right for all the different religions to exist and practice freely,” she said. “We are Hindus, we are proud Hindus, but our Hinduism and our devotion to secular democracy, whether it’s in America, where most of us live, or in India, where most of us are from, that is what is motivating us.” 

As South Asians in both camps plan to assemble in Washington throughout Modi’s three-day visit, some national organizations are urging Biden to address his recent actions. 

The Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement last week denouncing Modi’s media crackdown and the arrests of journalists since he came to power in 2014. 

“Journalists critical of the government and the BJP party have been jailed, harassed, and surveilled in retaliation for their work,” CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg said in the statement . “India is the world’s largest democracy, and it needs to live up to that by ensuring a free and independent media — and we expect the United States to make this a core element of discussions.”

The Hindu American Foundation declined to comment on Modi’s visit. Overseas Friends of the BJP, an international arm of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, did not respond to requests for comment. 

The Council on American Islamic Relations released a video and a petition opposing Modi’s visit to address a joint session of Congress on Thursday because of his anti-Muslim, anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh policies. 

“The evidence of Modi’s expanding effort to place a boot firmly on the collective heads of India’s religious minorities is extensive,” the petition said.

Though it’s hard to predict how many Indian Americans will gather outside the White House, Modi’s 2019 trip to the U.S. drew over 50,000 to Houston for a rally called “Howdy Modi.” President Donald Trump co-hosted the event, calling it a “profoundly historic event.”

Viswanath remembers the experience four years ago, protesting outside the stadium as fellow Indian Americans poured inside. 

“I was holding my sign, and people were streaming into the stadium dressed in their finest,” she said. “They looked like me. They looked like my family. It was one of those moments where I’m grateful I’m on this side of history. … Our deep hope, our ardent hope, is that as we build this space, Hindus will join us.”

Sakshi Venkatraman is a reporter for NBC Asian America.

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Joe Biden, Mark Donovan and Andy Reid congratulate Chiefs at White House

Kansas City’s first championship visit to the nation’s Executive Mansion was both somber and silly.

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Kansas City Chiefs players and coaches from the 2022 Super Bowl championship team — including former players JuJu Smith-Schuster, Frank Clark, Carlos Dunlap, Andrew Wylie, Chad Henne and Chris Lammons — and former coach Eric Bieniemy — joined President Joe Biden on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Monday afternoon to celebrate the team’s victory.

Welcome to the White House, where the Chiefs are about to be honored as Super Bowl LVII champions. pic.twitter.com/TzZhQOLRWj — Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) June 5, 2023

February’s 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles was actually the team’s third NFL championship, but Monday was the first time it had been able to take part in the traditional White House appearance for NFL champions.

When the team won its first Lombardi Trophy after the 1969 season, the tradition had not yet been established — and in the summer after the team’s 2019 championship, the nation was deeply into the coronavirus pandemic; the White House ceremony wasn’t held.

Even Monday’s event was marred by the absence of Chiefs’ CEO Clark Hunt, whose mother Norma Hunt died on Sunday. Team president Mark Donovan stood in for his boss alongside head coach Andy Reid.

President Biden began the 16-minute ceremony by saying he’d have to be careful about what he said about the team that had defeated the Eagles. Himself a Pennsylvania native, Biden still blamed it on his wife Jill.

“I married a Philly girl,” explained the President. “That explains a lot, doesn’t it? Fortunately, she is overseas right now in the Middle East.

“She’s a rabid Eagles fan — and the way the game ended, I might be in for a rough night. Jill still doesn’t even believe the Eagles player who acknowledged the holding penalty. But I figure if the Kelce family can make it work for Travis and Jason — [the] first two brothers to play against each other in the Super Bowl — then there’s hope for the rest of us.”

Biden acknowledged the Hunt’s absences.

“You know, Norma is known as the first lady of football. She attended every single Super Bowl in history — all 57 including the past one [that] her Chiefs won — and Jill and I send our condolences to the entire Hunt family, including their son and current CEO of the Chiefs, Clark Hunt.”

Then the President turned to the Chiefs’ season.

“The Chiefs not only hold the title again,” said Biden, “they’re building a dynasty. Super Bowl champs in 2020 and 2023, [they have] dominated the league with 64 wins in the last five years — the best record in the NFL. Then somehow last summer, people still counted you guys out.

“But you kept the faith. You overcame injuries, dominating the regular season 14-3. In the playoffs, you beat the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cincinnati Bengals — avenging last year’s AFC championship game — and then with 200 million people watching, you had another thrilling game: you beat the Eagles, becoming the Super Bowl champs again.”

Hail to the Chiefs! #ChiefsKingdom : PatrickMahomes pic.twitter.com/62sEO3jo6M — Rob Collins (@RCFOX4KC) June 5, 2023

Biden recognized quarterback Patrick Mahomes, calling him “one of the greatest quarterbacks of his generation — and I predict of any generation.” He called tight end Travis Kelce “one of the best tight ends ever” and referred to Reid’s accomplishment of winning more than 100 games with two different teams.

“They’ve called him a beacon of offensive brilliance — a beautiful mind,” said Biden of Reid. “The guy gives full meaning [to] the word ‘coach,’ because he makes you believe in yourself.”

Then he returned to themes that Reid often addresses in his own public remarks.

“You’re showing the power of one of the most elusive things in world: unity,” observed the President. “When people from different backgrounds, each [with] their own personalities, work together as one team, you play together with a distinct style — in constant motion — with the real joy of the game and love for each other [and] a great city you represent.

“And from that unity, you strive to bring out the best in yourselves and each other. In fact, I’ve heard how even after the wins, Patrick and those players go up to Coach Reid and ask him, ‘How could we do better?’ That’s pretty incredible.”

“That’s pretty incredible for everyone watching — especially our children. That’s the power of this team: the power of sports. And I might add [that] it’s the power of this country. It’s the power to remind us who we are as Americans. We’re the United States of America. There’s nothing — nothing! — beyond our capacity when we do it together. Just like these guys behind me.

“Folks, congratulations to the Super Bowl champs: the Kansas City Chiefs — and good luck next season.”

Donovan expanded upon Biden’s remarks.

“The men who stand behind me are just remarkable examples of the American spirit,” said the team president. “Not because they won a lot of football games, [but] because they exhibited the qualities that lead to success.

“First, they work together. This season was never about one individual. It was about a group of men [who had] each other’s back, coming together to accomplish something special.

“Second, they overcame adversity — from a completely retooled roster with a lot of young players to the injury to our star quarterback. These players persevered all season long.

“Third, they believed in themselves. When the media experts and the NFL draftniks said that maybe the Chiefs’ run was over — [that] maybe the division was just too tough — the guys behind me proved the naysayers [were] wrong.

“Lastly, we are all particularly proud of how they united our community. As the President said, sports has the power to do that. We’re proud that they united Chiefs Kingdom — a fan base that has proven their reputation as the most passionate in all of football.”

Donovan then thanked Hunt and general manager Brett Veach before bringing Reid to the podium.

“I’ll tell you what. We’re fired up to be here as a football team,” exclaimed the head coach. “President Biden — [and] your staff — we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for inviting us to the White House.”

Then there was a series of sharp, loud cracks. In the moment, they sounded like gunfire — but they probably represented electronic noise from the sound system. Clearly distracted by the noise, it took Reid a moment to get back into form.

“Nobody believed [in] us before,” he finally recalled of the season. “And I’m sure it’s going to be that same way this time — [until] we come out and prove them wrong.

“You — the Chiefs Kingdom and the city of Kansas City — we appreciate all the support that you give us, week-in and week-out. It’s on the road. It’s at home. You’re the best fans in the business. We love you. We appreciate you. We sure appreciate our support here, too.

“I’m proud to be the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, man.”

Then it was up to Mahomes and Kelce to present a Chiefs No. 46 jersey to the President. As they walked back to the risers where their teammates stood, Kelce stepped up to the microphone.

For one second .. ‘President’ Travis Kelce addressed the nation. pic.twitter.com/86ZNWhlK4a — Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) June 5, 2023

“So I’ve been waiting for this,“ began the tight end.

But Mahomes took him by the arm and quickly led him away.

“Sorry,” he said — as the audience laughed.

It was all part of the playful spirit the team had been exhibiting all day.

Former #Chiefs WR Juju Smith-Schuster documenting his visit to the White House on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/p6RXYOdCtm — Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) June 5, 2023

I cannot with this team I love them. pic.twitter.com/cdCURrHrGr — Lexi (@lexiosborne) June 5, 2023

The former players and coaches went back to their new teams — and sometimes to their homes, waiting for their next NFL opportunity. The current players and coaches got on a plane to return to Kansas City. On Tuesday, they will begin the final days of the Phase 3 OTA sessions.

It’s just the next step in what they hope will be a return to the White House in 2024.

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Deadline: Legal Blog

From deadline: white house with nicolle wallace.

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Fani Willis fights disqualification appeal in Trump’s Georgia case

By Jordan Rubin

Remember the Fani Willis disqualification saga ? It’s not over yet.

Donald Trump and his co-defendants in Georgia are appealing Judge Scott McAfee’s order that let the Fulton County district attorney stay on the case. If they’re successful on appeal, then that would throw the entire case into question.

But Willis is fighting the defense quest to overturn McAfee’s order. The judge said last month that Willis and her office could stay on the case if special prosecutor Nathan Wade, with whom Willis had a romantic relationship, stepped down. Wade did so.

Arguing that there was “no error” in McAfee’s ruling, Willis’ office wrote Monday to the state appeals court that the defense complaint “merely reflects the applicants’ dissatisfaction with the trial court’s proper application of well-established law to the facts.”

Arguing that there was “no error” in McAfee’s ruling, Willis’ office wrote Monday to the state appeals court that the defense complaint “merely reflects the applicants’ dissatisfaction with the trial court’s proper application of well-established law to the facts.” The DA therefore told the appeals court that it doesn’t even need to take up the appeal at all.

McAfee found that there was no actual conflict of interest stemming from the relationship and that Willis hadn’t committed “forensic misconduct” in a speech she gave outside court . The judge nonetheless ruled that the appearance of impropriety required Willis or Wade to step down, which effectively kicked Wade off the case but let Willis’ office continue prosecuting it. The defense had argued that Willis gained an improper stake in the case by hiring Wade.

The state appeals court doesn’t have to take the pretrial appeal, and we may not know until next month whether it will. If Willis and her office are kicked off the case, then it would have to go to a different office, which could imperil the multi-defendant election racketeering prosecution .

The Georgia case doesn’t have a trial date as it is, while Trump is set to face his first criminal trial next week in his other state case, in New York . A difference between those two cases and Trump’s two federal criminal cases is that he can’t pardon himself in the state cases or order them dropped if he becomes president again. But if the Georgia defendants succeed in their disqualification appeal, then there may never be a trial in that one anyway.

Subscribe to the  Deadline: Legal Newsletter  for weekly updates on the top legal stories, including news from the Supreme Court, the Donald Trump cases and more.

Jordan Rubin is the Deadline: Legal Blog writer. He was a prosecutor for the New York County District Attorney’s Office in Manhattan and is the author of “Bizarro," a book about the secret war on synthetic drugs. Before he joined MSNBC, he was a legal reporter for Bloomberg Law.