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White House

White House 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. 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.

Public tours are typically available from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, excluding Federal holidays or unless otherwise noted. If your tour is confirmed, please note that you will be assigned a specific time. All White House tours are free of charge. The White House tour schedule is subject to change, with little notice, based on inclement weather or official use.

If you are a citizen of a foreign country, please contact your embassy in Washington, D.C. for assistance in submitting a tour request.

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Explore the White House Visitor Center

The White House and President's Park

There are many exhibits to explore, plus a 14-minute film. To fully experience all the museum has to offer, plan to spend about two hours.

The next best thing to going inside the White House, the White House Visitor Center is a free, no-hassle alternative that lets you explore the White House and view exciting collections of White House artifacts.

Service animals are permitted.

The White House Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. President's Park boundaries are between 17th and 15th Streets NW on the west and east and between H Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW on the north and south. If you are taking a White House tour, please line up at 15th and Hamilton Streets NW.

We strongly encourage the use of  public transportation  as nearby parking is very limited.

The closest Metrorail stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (blue, orange, and silver lines) and Metro Center (red, blue, orange, and silver lines). From Metro Center, head south on 13th St NW toward F St NW. Turn right onto Pennsylvania Ave NW and the Visitor Center will be on the left.

 The visitor center is open from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. daily (except January 1, Thanksgiving, and December 25).

All new interactive and tactile exhibits offer visitors a greater chance to find their connection to the President's House. For example, visitors will be able to touch tactile maps, pieces of stone used to construct the White House, and replicas of significant objects like the North Portico door knob . Visitors with vision or hearing impairments may request equipment at the Information Desk to experience the comprehensive audio tour for the museum's exhibits and interactive elements (all film and audio components are open-captioned).

• the white house and president's park
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White House Historical Association

Last updated: April 25, 2017

Visitor's Guide to The White House

Visitors from around the world come to Washington, DC to tour the White House, the home, and office of the U.S. President. Built between 1792 and 1800, the White House is one of the oldest public buildings in the nation's capital and serves as a museum of American history. George Washington selected the site for the White House in 1791 and chose the design submitted by Irish-born architect James Hoban. The historic structure has been expanded and renovated many times throughout history. There are 132 rooms on 6 levels. The decor includes a collection of fine and decorative arts, such as historic paintings, sculpture, furniture, and China.

Public tours of the White House, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, are limited to groups of 10 or more and must be requested through a member of Congress. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis, Requests can be submitted up to six months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance. To contact your Representative and Senators, call (202) 224-3121. Tickets are provided free of charge.

Visitors who are not US citizens should contact their embassy in DC about tours for international visitors, which are arranged through the Protocol Desk at the State Department. Visitors who are 18 years of age or older are required to present a valid, government-issued photo identification. All foreign nationals must present their passport. Prohibited items include cameras, video recorders, backpacks or purses, strollers, weapons, and more. The U.S. Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit other personal items.

Transportation and Parking

The closest Metro stations to the White House are Federal Triangle, Metro Center and McPherson Square. Parking is very limited in this area, so public transportation is recommended.

Visitor Center

The White House Visitor Center has just been renovated with brand new exhibits and is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Watch a 30-minute video and learn about many aspects of the White House, including its architecture, furnishings, first families, social events, and relations with the press and world leaders.

Lafayette Park

The seven-acre public park located across from the White House is a great spot to take photos and enjoy the view. It is a prominent arena often used for public protests, ranger programs, and special events.

Garden Tours

The White House Garden is open to the public a few times a year. Visitors are invited to view the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden, and South Lawn. Tickets are distributed the day of the event.

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The White House and the Washington Monument

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Even if you're only in town for a short trip, visiting the Washington Monument and the White House – two marble symbols of the U.S. – is a must for any first-time D.C. visitor.

Standing just shy of 555 ½ feet, the Washington Monument was the tallest structure in the world at its completion in 1884. Nowadays, you can ride one of the monument's glass-encased elevators to the top observation deck to enjoy 360-degree views of the city, which invariably impress visitors. You can explore the attraction's exterior for free 24 hours a day, but National Park Service rangers are only available from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. to answer questions. The monument itself is open to visitors every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free timed-entry tickets can be reserved up to 30 days in advance via Recreation.gov . (There is a $1 nonrefundable service charge for each ticket.) Some same-day tickets are distributed daily on a first-come, first served basis. The ticket window opens at 8:45 a.m.; be prepared for a line. The Smithsonian Metro stop is closest to the monument. Visit the National Park Service's Washington Monument page for more information.

Home to every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800, the White House is America's most famous homestead. If you opt to tour the building, you'll have the opportunity to visit the State Floor, which includes the East Room, the Green Room and the Blue Room. (Visitors often observe that the building is smaller than they expected, so adjust your expectations accordingly.) In order to participate in a tour, you'll need to contact the office of your senator or representative at least 21 days but no more than 90 days in advance to ensure your entry. If confirmed, you'll be assigned a specific time to arrive. Public tours usually take place from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Bear in mind that tours can be canceled last minute. Security lines can be long (especially during the summer months), so recent visitors recommend arriving at least 15 minutes early. Be sure to bring government-issued ID. The White House is a short walk from the McPherson Square, Metro Center and Federal Triangle Metro stops on the Blue, Silver and Orange lines; you can also take the Red Line to Metro Center. To plan your visit, consult the White House's official website . Several of the city's best guided tours also feature stops at the Washington Monument and the White House, including the best bus tours .

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More Best Things To Do in Washington, D.C.

#1 The Tidal Basin

If you've never been to Washington, D.C. before, plan to spend some time along the Tidal Basin, an approximately 107-acre pond encircled by a 2.1-mile loop trail. Constructed to use the strong tides of the Potomac River to clear silt from the Washington Channel and to maintain steady water levels in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pools , it now also serves as the backdrop to some of D.C.'s best-loved sites. Every spring, the Tidal Basin bursts with color as cherry blossom trees (gifted to the city from Tokyo ) bloom into cotton candy-colored tufts, and they attract hordes of visitors. The cherry blossoms typically hit peak bloom (defined as when 70% of the cherry blossoms are open) in March or April. The National Park Service website makes "bloom watch" updates on its website , where you can check the progress of the trees and see when peak bloom is expected for the year. You can follow the path that leads around the basin, but recent visitors recommended testing the waters in a paddleboat. Paddleboats are available to rent from spring until fall for $28 to $40 per hour (depending on the day) for a four-passenger boat. You can pick up a paddle boat every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the boat dock near Maine Avenue.

Even if you don't make it to town for the cherry blossoms, you won't want to miss the three major memorials that can be found along the Tidal Basin's shores: the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial . A memorial to Virginia Declaration of Rights author George Mason, also stands nearby.

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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.

@abroadwife

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: Everything You Need to Know About the US President’s Residence

By Elizabeth Stamp

Located at the country’s most well-known address, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave in Washington, DC, the White House is America’s most iconic home. The official residence and office of the president of the United States, the White House has been the home of every president since John Adams and the site of some of the most important events in American history.

Set on 18 acres of land, the White House is made up of the Executive Residence, the East Wing, and the West Wing, with its famous Oval Office. Today, the residence includes six levels with 132 rooms, including 16 family and guest rooms and 35 bathrooms, and is spread over 55,000 square feet. The White House has been home to every president from John Adams to Joe Biden, and it is an enduring symbol of democracy and one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, attracting 500,000 visitors annually.

The early history of the White House

President George Washington, who lived in presidential residences in New York and Philadelphia, selected the site of the nation’s capital on the Potomac River for an executive mansion with the help of French architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant, who designed the plan of the city. L’Enfant initially proposed an opulent design for the residence, which would have resulted in a building four times the size of what stands today. He was ultimately dismissed by the three-person committee overseeing the development of the District of Columbia, and his palatial design was abandoned. Instead, Washington and his secretary of state, Thomas Jefferson, decided that the design would be chosen through a national competition.

Jefferson announced the competition—which offered a prize of $500 (or a medal of equal value)—and even reportedly submitted a design himself under the initials “A.Z”. In July of 1792, Irish-born architect James Hoban ’s submission was selected by Washington, and he was hired to build the White House.

The architectural style of the White House

The south façade of the White House

Hoban proposed a Palladian neoclassical design . According to Robert P. Watson’s George Washington’s Final Battle: The Epic Struggle to Build a Capital City and a Nation, Hoban’s design took inspiration from L’Enfant’s design for Federal Hall in New York City, Leinster House (now the seat of Ireland’s parliament in Dublin), and a structure he had seen in architect James Gibbs’s 1728 title, Book of Architecture.

Construction began in October of 1792 with the laying of the first cornerstone. “I think it’s critical to recognize that the initial construction of the White House, as well as other early-19th-century projects, like the reconstruction after the burning of the White House…[relied] on the labor of enslaved people, and these laborers [worked] alongside European craftsmen, wage laborers, and African Americans that [were] free to do this work,” says Sarah Fling, a historian at the White House Historical Association. The building was constructed between 1792 and 1800 using Aquia sandstone from the Government Island quarry (also a supplier of stone for the exterior of the US Capitol), bricks made in kilns near the site, and lumber from forests in Maryland and Virginia.

In 1800, President John Adams and first lady Abigail Adams moved into the still unfinished building on November 1. While it was much smaller than L’Enfant’s proposal, the completed building was still the largest home in the country and would retain that title until after the Civil War. According to the White House Historical Association, the cost of construction was $232,372.

Evolution of the White House

The White House has undergone many renovations throughout its history , starting with Thomas Jefferson, who, along with architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe, added the East and West Colonnades, which now link the East and West Wings with the Executive Residence. The first major renovation of the White House took place during the War of 1812. On August 24, 1814, British troops marched on Washington, DC, and burned the White House, the Capitol, and several other public buildings. Hoban returned to rebuild the residence, and while work was completed in 1817, he continued to work on additions for several more years. In 1824, he added the South Portico for James Monroe, and he constructed the North Portico for Andrew Jackson from 1829 to 1830.

The Green Room in 1956

By Katie Schultz

By Lindsey Mather

By Kathryn O'Shea-Evans

“Every president and first lady really leave their mark, whether that means adding new technology, new artwork, or even external changes like a pool or a putting green, but I think in terms of seeing the White House as we know it today, the 1902 renovation by Theodore Roosevelt really brings the White House into the modern era,” notes Fling.

President Theodore Roosevelt hired New York architectural firm McKim, Mead & White to renovate and expand the building. The firm moved the presidential offices to a new building, which would eventually be known as the West Wing. (Roosevelt’s successor, William Howard Taft, would add the Oval Office to the new extension.) Architect Charles McKim repurposed the former offices into more living spaces, stripped away aesthetically disparate elements from previous administrations, and transformed the basement into the ground floor. New reception rooms, a new entry, and a new grand staircase fit with Roosevelt’s intentions for his administration. “You can see through the Roosevelt renovation that he wants the building to reflect the growing influence and power of the presidency at the turn of the 20th century,” says Fling. “The addition of what we know as the West Wing is major. It became one of the most iconic symbols of the presidency. We also see the Roosevelt renovation expand the State Dining Room, which is really important because it shows the growing importance of the US on the world stage in 1902.”

President Harry S. Truman testing out the newly installed bowling alleys in the basement at the White House in 1948

When President Harry S. Truman moved into the White House in 1945, he became concerned about the state of the building. In 1947, a chandelier in the Blue Room almost fell on Bess Truman and her guests from the Daughters of the American Revolution, and in 1948, the leg of Margaret Truman’s piano pierced through the floor of what is now the private dining room. Engineers confirmed that the building was at risk of collapse, and Truman and his family relocated to Blair House, the president’s guesthouse located nearby at 1651 Pennsylvania Ave.

The Blue Room in 1952

The Blue Room decorated for the holidays in 2021

Architect Lorenzo Winslow oversaw the three-year gut renovation, during which the inside of the White House was demolished and completely rebuilt. “The Truman renovation is the largest reconstruction at the White House because of the sheer amount of demolition and reconstruction that you see inside,” says Fling.

First lady Jacqueline Kennedy giving a tour of the White House in 1962

First lady Jacqueline Kennedy began a restoration of the interior decoration of the White House in 1961, with the goal of making the historic building a “living museum.” Kennedy asked esteemed collector Henry Francis du Pont of the Winterthur Museum to lead the project and hired Parisian decorator Stéphane Boudin of Maison Jansen to assist with the interior design. “Everything in the White House must have a reason for being there,” the first lady told Life magazine in 1961. “It would be sacrilege merely to redecorate it—a word I hate. It must be restored , and that has nothing to do with decoration. That is a question of scholarship.” Kennedy showed off the restoration during a televised tour that aired on CBS in 1962.

To ensure that the White House would be protected and preserved in the future, she founded the White House Historical Association in 1961. “We were initially founded by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961 for the purpose of enhancing understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the White House,” says Fling. “The association’s products fund the acquisition of historic furnishings and artwork at the White House. It assists with the preservation of public rooms and furnishings at the house and also helps to further our educational mission.”

The White House was designated a museum by Congress in 1961. The Committee for the Preservation of the White House, founded by President Lyndon Johnson, approves any changes to the State Rooms of the White House.

The elements of the White House

The Red Room decorated for the holidays during President Obama’s tenure

The central Executive Residence is home to the president’s living spaces and the State Rooms. The ground floor originally housed service areas, but now includes the Diplomatic Reception Room, the White House Library, the Map Room, the Vermeil Room, and the China Room. The State Floor features some of the White House’s most treasured spaces, including the East Room, the Blue, Red, and Green Rooms, the State Dining Room, and the Family Dining Room.

The private residence of the first family is located on the second floor. In addition to the Presidential Bedroom Suite, the second floor includes historic spaces, such as the Queens’ Bedroom, the Treaty Room, the Yellow Oval Room, the Center Hall, and the East and West Sitting Rooms.

The White House’s attic was converted into a third floor during the Coolidge administration, and over the years, it has hosted a music room for President Clinton and a bedroom suite for Melania Trump. There is also a solarium, added by Grace Coolidge, with panoramic views of the Mall.

A small East Wing was first added in 1902 as an entrance to the White House. Today’s structure was built in 1942 and sits atop the Presidential Emergency Operations Center. The two-story East Wing houses the office spaces of the first lady and her staff.

The Oval Office in 2021

The West Wing’s centerpiece is the Oval Office. Each president adds their own personal style to the workspace, choosing artwork from the White House collection or borrowing from museums. Six desks have been used in the Oval Office, the most famous of which is the Resolute desk. Made of wood from the HMS Resolute, the desk is currently in use by President Biden.

First lady Barbara Bush and her dog, Millie, in the White House Diplomatic Reception Room in 1989

The West Wing also houses the Situation Room, the Cabinet Room, the Press Room, and offices for advisors and the chief of staff. Additional offices for the president’s staff are located in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The vice president has an office in the West Wing, as well as the ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

President Joe Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris (R) and US representative Maxwell Frost (L), democrat of Florida, in the Rose Garden of the White House in September of 2023

Beautiful landscaping has graced the White House grounds since the administration of Thomas Jefferson. The South Lawn features over three dozen commemorative trees that date back to the 1870s. During the Kennedy administration, Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon redesigned the White House gardens, including the famed Rose Garden outside the West Wing. The East Garden, also redesigned by Mellon, was later named in honor of Jacqueline Kennedy. First lady Michelle Obama added a 1,100-square-foot vegetable garden on the south grounds in 2009.

Interesting facts about the White House

A greenhouse with orchids at the White House, sometime between 1889 and 1906

President Buchanan added a glass conservatory in 1857, and it was expanded throughout the 19th century. “[Conservatories and greenhouses were] very popular in the 19th century, especially among first ladies,” says Fling. “But when we see this 1902 renovation with Theodore Roosevelt, he demolished the conservatory to make room for what we know as the West Wing. So it’s something that’s really popular in the 19th century, but I think hard to imagine for a modern audience, having a full greenhouse on the White House grounds.”

President Gerald Ford in the White House’s outdoor pool in 1975

The White House swimming pool used by Franklin D. Roosevelt

The White House has been home to two swimming pools. “There had been a pool inside the White House added by Franklin Roosevelt that he would use as exercise for his polio, but later, Gerald Ford wanted an outdoor pool,” says Fling. Ford’s pool was built on the South Lawn, and Roosevelt’s indoor pool was covered and turned into a press briefing room.

Princess Diana dancing with John Travolta in the Cross Hall at the White House during an official dinner in 1985

The White House kitchen has the capacity to prepare dinner for 140 guests and hors d’oeuvres for over 1,000.

The residence features a 42-seat movie theater and a tennis and basketball court. The White House bowling alley was given as a gift to President Truman and was later moved to the basement of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Frequently asked questions about the White House

Early maps referred to the White House as the “President’s Palace,” but in 1810, the building was officially named “Executive Mansion” in order to avoid any connection to royalty. The residence has also been called “President’s House,” or “President’s Mansion.” In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt changed the official name to “White House,” a moniker that had been used throughout the 19th century.

While George Washington chose the site and design of the White House, he did not ever live in the residence. John Adams was the first president to live in the White House, moving in on November 1st, 1800. The executive mansion has been the official residence of every subsequent president.

Contrary to a popular myth that the building was painted white to hide scorch marks after the fire in 1814, the residence was first painted white in 1798 to protect the exterior from weather damage.

Today, the White House is painted in Duron’s Whisper White. It takes 570 gallons to cover the exterior.

President Bill Clinton’s cat Socks and dog Buddy in the Outer Oval Office in 1998

According to whitehouse.gov , members of the American public can tour the White House by scheduling a visit through their member of Congress. Citizens of a foreign countries can arrange tours through their embassy.

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Biden swipes at Trump at White House correspondents' dinner

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Saturday used his White House Correspondents' Association dinner speech to swipe at former President Donald Trump , taking shots at the presumptive GOP nominee while highlighting the stakes of the election.

Biden cracked jokes at his political rival's expense and tackled age head-on, saying that he was “a grown man running against a 6-year-old.”

The president said later that age was the only thing he and Trump had in common, adding, “My vice president actually endorses me,” a reference to former Vice President Mike Pence's refusal to say he'll back his former running mate in 2024.

But Biden's speech took a serious turn when he discussed the stakes of November's presidential election, echoing themes of his campaign speeches as he highlighted what he called Trump's “attack on our democracy.”

The president urged the press to “rise up to the seriousness of the moment.”

“Move past the horse race numbers and the 'gotcha' moments and the distractions and the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics, and focus on what’s actually at stake,” Biden said. “I think in your hearts, you know what's at stake.”

Biden also highlighted the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich , who has been imprisoned in Russia for more than a year on espionage charges that he and his employer deny. His case has been classified as a wrongful detention by the U.S.

The president called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Gershkovich immediately, adding that the White House was also doing everything it could to bring home freelance journalist Austin Tice and businessman Paul Whelan.

Gershkovich’s parents and Tice’s mother were among the approximately 2,600 guests at the dinner, an estimate provided by NBC News political correspondent Steve Kornacki in a video that played at the event.

“I give you my word as a Biden: We're not going to give up until we get them home,” Biden said. “All of them.”

Biden also highlighted the wrongful detention of Americans abroad, including Gershkovich , at last year's dinner. The president emphasized during last year’s remarks that “journalism is not a crime,” noting that a free press is a “pillar” of a “free society.”

Celebrities who went to Saturday's event included Scarlett Johansson, who is married to Jost, as well as Rachel Brosnahan and Quavo. High-profile politicians and administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., attended as well.

First lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff also attended the event, which took place at the Washington Hilton.

NBC News senior White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell is serving as the White House Correspondents’ Association’s 2023-24 president and presided over the dinner.

“Saturday Night Live” cast member Colin Jost was the dinner’s featured entertainer. He co-anchors the NBC show’s “Weekend Update” segment.

Like Biden, Jost cracked several jokes at the former president's expense, including about Trump's criminal trial, starting his remarks by saying “how refreshing it is to see a president of the United States at an event that doesn't begin with a bailiff saying, ‘All rise.’”

Jost also targeted Biden at times, comparing the economy to the president ascending Air Force One's steps: “It feels like it's stumbling, but there's somehow upward progress.” The comedian also told the president that his now-deceased grandfather voted for Biden in the last election because he thought Biden was “a decent man.”

While the dinner, a tradition dating back 100 years, played out inside the ballroom, hundreds of protesters mobilized outside the venue to call for a cease-fire and criticize Biden's response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The protesters chanted, “Shame on you!” as attendees passed them to enter the hotel. They also yelled criticism of the media, and a large sign read, “Stop media complicity in genocide.”

“Every time the media lies, journalists in Gaza die,” the crowd chanted, echoing the leader's bullhorn. Later, protesters called for the fall of Western media, chanting, “Brick by brick, wall by wall, Western media will fall.”

U.S. Secret Service chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that “attendees can expect layered security and screening at the dinner,” adding that there would be “intermittent” road closures near the venue.

“In reference to the publicized demonstration, we are working closely with the Metropolitan Washington Police Department to protect individuals' rights to assemble but we will remain intolerant to unlawful behavior,” Guglielmi added.

After the dinner concluded, two protesters holding a sign saying “Stop Israel's genocide” entered the hotel's red carpet area as guests were departing. They heckled attendees and were removed by security.

The president has had to contend with protesters demonstrating outside of his official events, with protesters sometimes interrupting his speeches. In response , Biden's team has worked to make the president's events smaller and has withheld their exact locations longer than usual in hopes of cutting back on potential interruptions.

Earlier this month, Palestinian journalists wrote an open letter calling on others to boycott the White House correspondents' dinner “as an act of solidarity with us — your fellow journalists — as well as with the millions of Palestinians currently being starved in Gaza,” pointing to the Biden administration's support for Israel.

CORRECTION  (April 28, 2024, 9:49 a.m. ET): A caption in a previous version of this article included an incorrect title for NBC News’ Kelly O’Donnell. She is president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, not vice president.

Megan Lebowitz is a politics reporter for NBC News.

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Washington National Cathedral & the White House

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Washington National Cathedral sits atop the highest point in Washington, D.C. and is the sixth largest cathedral in the world. This splendid example of Gothic architecture is not only the home to an Episcopal congregation but a house of prayer for all people from around the United States and the world. When President George Washington commissioned Major Pierre L'Enfant in 1791 to create a plan for the new capital city, L'Enfant included in his design a great church for national purposes. The idea never happened as L'Enfant envisioned, instead it would be more than 100 years before Congress granted a charter authorizing a cathedral dedicated to religion, education, and charity. Construction began in 1907 and the Washington National Cathedral took shape during two World Wars, the Great Depression and 16 presidencies - from President Theodore Roosevelt to President George H.W. Bush. We know it today as a sacred place which holds state funerals of presidents, memorial services of great Americans, as well as national prayer services. There’s even one president buried at the Cathedral. White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin is joined by the Very Reverend Randolph Hollerith, the 11th Dean of Washington National Cathedral, and Reverend Canon Jan Naylor Cope, the Provost of Washington National Cathedral, to discuss the role the Cathedral has played in America’s history and the indelible link it has to those who hold the office of the President of the United States. We also go on a tour of the Cathedral and see where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his final Sunday sermon, where a stone taken from the White House during the Truman renovation is embedded into a wall of the Cathedral, and many more treasures.

Stewart McLaurin, Host

President of the White House Historical Association

As President of the White House Historical Association Stewart McLaurin leads the nonpartisan, nonprofit in its mission to preserve, protect, and provide access to White House history. As a lifelong student of history, Stewart is an avid reader, author, and storyteller. Drawing on his own experiences, relationships, and knowledge he provides listeners with a front row seat to history at the White House.

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