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WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Chuck Grassley can tell his wife that White House public tours are resuming March 7.
The tours had been temporarily suspended, which is typical when there’s a new president. But the length of the suspension apparently had begun to cause angst, notably in Grassley’s household.
The Iowa Republican tweeted this past Sunday: “Whoever monitors twitter at WH for businessman president Trump ‘when is WH going to be opened for public tours?’ Mrs G wants to know.”
First lady Melania Trump gave Grassley and everyone else who’d been wondering an answer Tuesday when she announced that the popular tours are resuming early next month.
“I am excited to reopen the White House to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year,” she said in a written 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.”
Grassley tweeted his appreciation following Mrs. Trump’s announcement.
“Mrs G appreciates WH responding 2my Twitter WH will open for public tours starting March 7 Im positive distraught Iowans will be very happy2” he said.
Lindsay Reynolds, the first lady’s chief of staff, said earlier this month in a written statement that the period before the tours resume is being used to handle routine maintenance, updates and renovations along the tour route “to ensure the guest experience is top notch.”
Tours of public areas of the White House are self-guided, and requests for a ticket must be submitted through a member of Congress.
The tour route includes the Blue, Red and Green Rooms, the State Dining Room and the East Room, where Trump held a news conference Monday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, excluding federal holidays or unless otherwise noted.
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Tour information: https://www.whitehouse.gov/participate/tours-and-events
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Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap
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