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Glitz, glamour and 'American Pie': Memorable moments from South Korean President Yoon's state visit

WASHINGTON – Any 70-year anniversary merits a big celebration.

And when you’re observing a decadeslong friendship between two nations, an ordinary fête just won’t do.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee to the White House for an official state visit on Wednesday to mark the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the two countries.

The bond between the United States and the Republic of Korea was formed at the end of the Korean War, a conflict that cost more than 54,000 American lives.

“It’s an unbreakable bond, forged in bravery and the sacrifice of our people,” Biden said during a pageantry-filled ceremony on the White House South Lawn.

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Yoon said he traveled to Washington to celebrate “with pride, with joy – and with the American people.”

Here are some memorable moments from the South Korean leader’s visit:

A 21-gun salute and Korean tunes for ‘great friends’

State visits by foreign leaders always begin with pomp and circumstance.

On a crisp but sunny morning, the Bidens welcomed the South Korean leader and his spouse to the White House with a formal arrival ceremony in front of nearly 7,000 guests on the South Lawn.

A military band played “Hail to the Chief” as the Bidens walked out of the White House and stood on a red carpet. A few seconds later, a black SUV carrying the guests of honor pulled up the White House driveway.

There was a 21-gun salute, a formal inspection of the troops, and the playing of each country's national anthems. Young children from the Korean-American Children’s Choir in New Jersey performed a traditional South Korean song. A fife and drum corps decked out in long red coats and white pants paraded in front of the stage.

“What a beautiful day to invite great friends back to the White House,” Biden said, celebrating what he called “the ironclad alliance” between the two countries.

That alliance may have been “forged in blood,” Yoon said, speaking through an English translator, but it’s a “just” one that stands for “freedom, peace and prosperity around the world.”

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Honoring American sacrifices in the Korean War

The night before the state visit officially began, the Bidens and their South Korean guests made a quiet pilgrimage to the Korean War Veterans’ Memorial on the National Mall.

The memorial, not far from the Lincoln Memorial, commemorates the sacrifices of the 5.8 million Americans who served in the U.S. armed services during the three-year Korean War. Some 54,246 Americans were killed in the conflict.

The Bidens and their guests strolled quietly through the memorial, which features 7-foot stainless steel statues of soldiers standing in patches of juniper bushes and polished granite strips symbolizing the rice paddies of Korea. They made no public remarks, but Yoon spoke of the visit during the White House arrival ceremony the next day.

“Why did they sacrifice their lives for this faraway country and for the people they never met?” he asked of the Americans killed in the war. “That was for one noble cause: to defend freedom.”

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Gifts for the South Korean guests

When there’s a state visit, there are usually gifts.

The Bidens presented the South Koreans with a small, handcrafted table by an American furniture maker. Made of mahogany wood and inlaid with historical White House wood, the table was inspired by traditional Korean soban tables. The gift included a vase filled with handmade paper hibiscus and rose flowers by a Korean American artist and a brass plaque to commemorate the state visit.

Biden also gave Yoon a shadow box set with custom and vintage baseball memorabilia. Jill Biden presented Kim with a pendant necklace with a trio of blue sapphires designed by a Korean American designer.

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Nukes, cybersecurity and other serious business

Amid the glitz and the glamour, Biden and Yoon conducted serious business, with bilateral meetings at the White House between the two leaders and other top officials from their delegations.

Biden announced that he is increasing demonstrations of military might in the Indo-Pacific and expanding collaboration with South Korea in hopes of deterring an attack by North Korea. In exchange, Yoon reaffirmed his nation's commitment that it would not develop its own nuclear weapons.

The so-called Washington Declaration is the centerpiece of the new initiatives on cybersecurity, economic investments and more that the leaders rolled out during Yoon’s visit.

A State Dinner with South Korean flair

The main event for every state visit is the dinner, the most coveted diplomatic honor – and one reserved for the U.S.'s closest allies.

Naturally, this one had a decidedly Korean flair .

Some 200 invited guests walked by a screen evoking traditional Korean ink brush painting. Dining tables were decked out with 6-foot-tall centerpieces of blossoming cherry tree boughs intended to suggest Washington's Tidal Basin in the springtime or the streets of Jeju. The menu featured braised beef short ribs – an American take on galbi-jjim – served with butter bean grits, sorghum-glazed carrots and pine nuts.

At the start of the soirée, Biden and Yoon toasted each other. Biden raised a glass "to our partnership, to our people, to possibilities" and added, "May we do it together for another 170 years."

Yoon brought a smile to Biden's face by paying homage to his Irish roots. Speaking through an interpreter, Yoon quoted an old Irish saying that goes: "A good friend is like a four-leaf clover. Hard to find and lucky to have."

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Broadway tunes and 'American Pie'

Broadway performers provided the evening’s entertainment, but Yoon stole the show with an impromptu rendition of “American Pie.”

Singers Lea Salonga, Jessica Vosk and Norm Lewis closed out the dinner with a selection of numbers from Broadway hit shows, including “Funny Girl” and “Les Misérables." For their encore, they chose the Don McLean classic “American Pie” especially for Yoon.

When they finished, Jill Biden pushed Yoon onto the stage. “We know this is one of your favorite songs,” Joe Biden said.

Yoon, still speaking through a translator, confirmed that the song was one of his favorites when he was in school. After a bit of coaxing from Biden, Yoon took the microphone and belted out the first few stanzas – in English. The crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Biden, who said he had no idea Yoon could sing, joked that he was going to tap the South Korean crooner to provide the entertainment for the next state dinner. Then, he surprised Yoon with another gift: A guitar signed by McLean.

Who scored a coveted dinner invitation?

The Bidens and the guests of honor weren’t the evening's only big names. Prominent figures from the world of politics, business and entertainment scored an invitation to the state dinner.

Actress Angelina Jolie, decked out in a white dress, brought her son Maddox. Broadway performer Salonga, one of the night’s entertainers, admitted to being nervous but said the experience “feels like being in a fairytale."

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre twirled for the photographers as she made her entrance. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York showed up in a navy suit instead of the usual formal attire. "This is as tux-ey as I get," he said.

Snowboarder Chloe Kim, an Olympic gold medalist, didn’t wear her medal. “I don’t know where it is,” she admitted. She was nervous, she said, but was looking forward to the dinner. "The food's gonna be really good,” she predicted.

The dinner came a day after Biden announced his reelection bid, adding to the buzz around the dinner for his Democratic guests.

Michael Purzycki, the mayor of Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, offered to assist with campaigning, "Any way he wants me to."

Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS.

Contributing: Maureen Groppe, Joey Garrison and Francesca Chambers

'Let's finish the job': President Joe Biden announces much awaited 2024 reelection bid

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With French President Macron's state visit, expect a mix of diplomacy and glamour

Franco Ordoñez

American and French flags are in place on the Old Executive Office Building on the White House campus on Tuesday in Washington in advance of the state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron. Andrew Harnik/AP hide caption

American and French flags are in place on the Old Executive Office Building on the White House campus on Tuesday in Washington in advance of the state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.

President Biden is hosting his first state dinner at the White House Thursday for French President Emmanuel Macron, a return to some of the more ceremonial diplomatic activities that were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The White House says the visit by Macron and his wife, Brigitte, will underscore the deep relationship with the United States' oldest ally.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said France is not only the United State's oldest ally, but a "vital global partner" on a number of critical issues.

"If you look at what's going on in Ukraine, look at what's going on in the Indo-Pacific and the tensions with China, France is really at the center of all those things," Kirby said. "And so the president felt that this was exactly the right and the most appropriate country to start with for state visits."

A state visit is one of the most glamourous events held at the White House. It includes an elaborate arrival ceremony, press conference between the two leaders and a black-tie dinner, which this year will feature a performance by Grammy Award winner Jon Batiste.

The Macrons arrived Tuesday night for the three-day visit that also includes a stop at NASA headquarters with Vice President Harris and lunch at the State Department.

During their stay, Macron and his wife will sleep at the historic Blair House, across the street from the White House.

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris speak during a meeting to highlight space cooperation between the two countries at NASA headquarters in Washington, on Wednesday. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris speak during a meeting to highlight space cooperation between the two countries at NASA headquarters in Washington, on Wednesday.

As a signal of France's importance, Macron is actually returning for his second state visit. He was also the first guest of former President Donald Trump's at a state dinner.

Macron has become a critical ear for Biden on the other side of the Atlantic

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has retired and the Britain's Boris Johnson resigned, which has left the 44-year-old Macron, even though he's young, as one of the most experienced European leaders.

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"France has jumped to the head of the queue," said Charles Kupchan, who was a senior adviser on European issues in the Obama White House. "America's go-to partner used to be the United Kingdom, but the U.K. has left the European Union and has been tied up in political knots."

It also symbolizes the recovery of a key relationship that deteriorated over a submarine deal with Australia last year that infuriated France.

The two teams say they're looking forward and focused on the most urgent global issues, including Russia's war in Ukraine and the challenges posed by China and Iran.

The leaders are also expected to discuss the climate, energy issues and economic cooperation.

Biden admits to France's leader that a contentious defense deal was handled poorly

But the visit is not without its fair share of challenges.

While there are lingering issues of trust in the defense sector following the submarine fiasco, the war in Ukraine has put those issues in perspective, said Célia Belin, a former policy adviser in the French foreign ministry.

"The war has reminded everybody of what is really at stake," said Belin, who is now a Paris-based fellow for the Brookings Institution. "And what's most important is transatlantic solidarity."

But she said the war hasn't erased all the other challenges the two country's face.

One of the big ones is France's concerns about Biden's climate and infrastructure bill.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes President Biden before their meeting at the French Embassy to the Vatican in Rome on Oct. 29, 2021. Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes President Biden before their meeting at the French Embassy to the Vatican in Rome on Oct. 29, 2021.

French officials have raised concerns about Biden's "Made in America" electric car provisions , which French leaders say could put European car makers at a disadvantage. And Macron has warned Europe may have to take action in response, including granting subsidies for European companies.

Martin Quencez, the deputy director of the German Marshall Fund's Paris office, says if the Biden administration is as committed as it says it is to the alliance around the world, then it needs to take into consideration the effects of its domestic politics policies on the same allies.

"The economic measures that are taken by the Biden administration makes perfect sense from a domestic American perspective," Quencez said. "But if it has damaging effects for like this has to be discussed and this is something to be reconciled by the Biden administration, you want stronger allies. You can't actually harm them by imposing this in a unilateral way."

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An Assessment of President Yoon’s State Visit to the White House

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Critical Questions by Victor Cha

Published May 1, 2023

South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to the White House on April 26 was the fifth meeting with President Biden since their first summit held in Seoul in May 2022. The two leaders have built a good rapport through their continued engagement on the sidelines of the NATO Summit last summer, UN General Assembly in New York City this past fall, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Phnom Penh last November.

Q1: What is the significance of Yoon being granted a state visit?

A1: A state visit is the highest honor bestowed by the White House on a visiting head of state. This was only the second such visit offered by the Biden administration (the other was to France) in large part because 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) alliance. The Biden administration also wishes to show strong support for Yoon’s foreign policy agenda which has shifted to deepening strategic ties with the United States and away from the hedging strategy of the previous administration.

Q2: What was the biggest takeaway from the summit?

A2: Aside from setting a high bar for musical performances by future world leaders at the White House, the main deliverable of the summit was the  Washington Declaration . The declaration is the closest the alliance has come to a shared decisionmaking framework for the use of nuclear weapons in Korea, and effectively has committed the two allies to a nuclear planning group in the establishment of the Nuclear Consultation Group (NCG). NCG activities will include joint nuclear planning and execution concerning U.S. nuclear operations in a contingency, as well as exercising with U.S. Strategic Command. The United States also will maintain a regular rotation of air- and sea-based nuclear capable assets, starting with a nuclear ballistic missile submarine to South Korea for the first time since 1981. While this is not tantamount to the return of tactical nuclear weapons to the peninsula (as advocated by some), it does represent a presence of nuclear capable assets around the peninsula for deterrence and assurance purposes. The declaration is a significant document that sharpens the meaning and execution of the U.S. nuclear guarantee and will sit alongside the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty. While this was not part of the declaration, the two sides also agreed in to education and training on nuclear deterrence for ROK military personnel.

Nevertheless, like most major documents or statements, the Washington Declaration has met some criticism in South Korea both from progressives and conservatives. The progressive opposition party has denounced the summit outcomes for warmongering and some from the conservative camp have criticized Yoon’s reaffirmation of South Korea’s nonnuclear status and compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) during the summit. Neither criticism really holds water. Rather than warmongering, the Washington Declaration tries to address South Korean concerns that nuclear deterrence may not be strong enough to prevent North Korea from disturbing the peace. Yoon's statement on the NPT is simply a reiteration of existing South Korea policy, and is a responsible statement given all the loose talk and polling lately regarding nuclear weapons in South Korea. To have expected him to disavow the NPT during the summit would have been absurd.

Q3: Besides North Korea and extended deterrence, were there other noteworthy deliverables for the alliance?

A3: Yes, a lot. The two leaders used the 70th anniversary of the alliance to highlight and build the so-called New Frontiers agenda of the relationship. First, Biden and Yoon both featured the global nature of the alliance providing not just private goods to each party but also public goods for the world. Biden supported Yoon’s new global agenda, including hosting the next Democracy Summit, partnering with NATO (as member of NATO Asia-Pacific partners), and partnering with the G7. Yoon made about the boldest statements for an Asian leader on Ukraine, featured at the top of the joint statement, condemning Russia for war and for attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. The reference to attacks on civilians lines up with previous conditions Yoon has laid out for sending lethal equipment to Ukraine. Yoon has little room to maneuver under the current law, but his inclinations on this issue are clear as evidenced in this document and in his speech before a joint session of Congress.

Second, the two leaders used the summit to make significant progress on several New Frontier issues. There was a new joint statement on U.S.-ROK cooperation in quantum information science and technology and a new high-level Next Generation Critical and Emerging Technologies Dialogue (led by national security advisers). The two sides also agreed to establish a U.S.-ROK Strategic Cybersecurity Cooperation Framework. And it appears as though some streamlining of export controls policies will allow for more collaboration in space, that will facilitate more commercial and governmental cooperation in space. The two sides also affirmed continued cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, medical products using AI, and biomanufacturing.

Q4: What are the takeaways on North Korean denuclearization and trilateral relations with the United States, Korea, and Japan?

A4: Biden and Yoon reiterated their commitment to diplomacy and denuclearization of North Korea, which was expected. The two put more emphasis, however, on human rights abuses in North Korea and also made explicit reference to aspirations for Korean unification in the joint statement, which was not seen in U.S. joint statements with the previous government.

On Japan, Biden made reference to Yoon’s “political courage” and leadership to take the initiative to improve South Korea's relations with Japan. This has become a regular adulation by White House officials regarding Yoon’s efforts with Japan. Behind the scenes, White House officials have expressed some frustration with the tepid response from Tokyo on the forced labor compensation deal and hope that Kishida will use an upcoming visit to South Korea in early May to do more. Biden and Yoon also made reference to economic security dialogues bilaterally and trilaterally with Japan. The latter suggests U.S. acceptance of a Yoon-proposed 2+2+2 on economic security.

Q5: How will China react to the U.S.-ROK summit?

A5: China will respond negatively to the summit. Yoon agreed to regularize anti-submarine and missile defense exercises, information-sharing, interdiction, anti-piracy, and also the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) trilateral exercises with the United States and Japan. The commitment to missile defense exercises, China would say, is a violation of the “three no’s” agreement of the previous administration. The United States and South Korea also made a very strong (and new) statement on opposing economic coercion which clearly refers to China (though unnamed). South Korea also agreed to a new and strong statement on opposing any changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Straits through use of force, as well as “unlawful maritime claims, the militarization of reclaimed features, and coercive activities” in the South China Sea. All of these are new major statements that will surely anger China, as they demonstrate a clear shift by South Korea to the United States and away from the previous hedging strategy.

Q6: Were there any big deliverables on economic/trade issues?

A6: The Biden administration’s acknowledgment of the intent to work closely with the Yoon government on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), CHIPS and Science Act, and export controls suggests that going forward, there might be more consultation with Korea and other key partners on rule-making rather than unilateral disclosures. Yet there was no sense that any new measures had been offered at this summit. However, it is noteworthy that U.S. companies have announced about $5.9 billion investments into South Korea, including from Netflix and Corning.

On climate change, both sides reiterated their Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. They also remained committed to nuclear energy cooperation, but no apparent resolution was reached on the legal dispute between Westinghouse and KEPCO, which will hold up any further collaboration.

Victor Cha is senior vice president for Asia and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.

Critical Questions is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does not take specific policy positions. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).

© 2024 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. All rights reserved.

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White House to Host Macron in Biden’s First State Visit

After months of pandemic-related disruptions to President Biden’s diplomatic calendar, the White House is set to welcome the French president in December.

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By Zach Montague

Follow our live coverage of Biden Hosting Macron at the White House .

WASHINGTON — The White House announced on Monday that it would host President Emmanuel Macron of France and his wife, Brigitte Macron, in December in the first state visit of President Biden’s administration.

The visit, which is scheduled for Dec. 1, comes as both leaders have sought to shore up cooperation between the United States and Europe amid several global crises, in particular Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ripple effects it has caused across global markets.

“We work closely with France on the full range of global challenges, as you all know, including the war in Ukraine,” Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, told reporters on Monday. “It is for these reasons that the president and first lady thought it was important to welcome this close and valued partner to the White House for their first state visit.”

“It will underscore the deep and enduring relationship between the United States and France, our oldest ally,” she said.

The visit symbolizes something of a return to traditional diplomatic activities for Mr. Biden, especially after the White House regularly postponed trips and whittled down meetings with foreign leaders for many of the early months of his presidency because of the pandemic.

“Covid certainly has delayed many of the in-person events a president traditionally hosts at the White House,” Ms. Jean-Pierre said.

But the White House announcement indicated that the visit, which will include a state dinner, will feature the usual pomp and pageantry of traditional state visits, through which the White House celebrates ties with its closest allies.

For Mr. Macron, it may be a more familiar affair.

In 2018, Mr. Macron was also the first world leader to be invited for a state dinner by President Donald J. Trump , attending a ceremony that included a performance by the Washington National Opera and wine produced through an American and French viticulture collaboration. Mr. Macron won a second term as France’s president in April and will return for his second state visit surrounded by a new administration.

The visit also marks a recovery in relations between Paris and Washington after a low point last year, when it was revealed that the United States had secretly pursued plans to help Australia build nuclear submarines, effectively undermining a 50-year, $66 billion deal France had cut to supply the Australian government with its own conventional submarines.

Mr. Macron and other top French officials were incensed by the secret negotiations, going as far as to briefly recall French ambassadors from both the United States and Australia. Mr. Biden later sought to repair relations , meeting with Mr. Macron one on one and describing the United States’ handling of the negotiations as “clumsy.”

In recent weeks, however, both Mr. Biden and Mr. Macron have spoken about the need to coordinate their activities in response to threats to Western democracies.

At the U.N. General Assembly last week, both men condemned President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia for disrupting the international order with its war, which has reverberated beyond Ukraine by sending energy prices in Europe skyrocketing before winter.

Since the war began, Mr. Macron has repeatedly sought to negotiate with Mr. Putin to mediate the conflict, while Mr. Biden has consistently urged lawmakers in the United States to continue approving regular military aid packages for Ukraine in an attempt to tip the balance of the war.

State visits traditionally offer an opportunity for cabinet secretaries and senior lawmakers to mingle with their counterparts, and the visit is also expected to offer an opportunity for discussions on climate and trade policy.

Zach Montague is based in Washington, D.C. He covers breaking news and developments around the district. More about Zach Montague

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has signed into law three measures aimed at replenishing the ranks of his country’s depleted army, including lowering the draft age to 25 .

With continued American aid to Ukraine stalled and against the looming prospect of a second Trump presidency, NATO officials are looking to take more control of directing military support from Ukraine’s allies  — a role that the United States has played for the past two years.

Exploding drones hit an oil refinery and munitions factory far to the east of Moscow, in what Ukrainian media and military experts said was among the longest-range strikes with Ukrainian drones so far in the war .

Conditional Support: Ukraine wants a formal invitation to join NATO, but NATO has no appetite for taking on a new member  that, because of the alliance’s covenant of collective security, would draw it into the biggest land war in Europe since 1945.

“Shell Hunger”: A desperate shortage of munitions in Ukraine  is warping tactics and the types of weapons employed. What few munitions remain are often mismatched with battlefield needs as the country’s forces prepare for an expected Russian offensive this summer.

Turning to Marketing: Ukraine’s troop-starved brigades have started their own recruitment campaigns  to fill ranks depleted in the war with Russia.

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We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

Watch CBS News

Biden and Macron present united front against Russia in first state visit

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By Kathryn Watson , Melissa Quinn

Updated on: December 1, 2022 / 7:10 PM EST / CBS News

Washington — President Biden said he has no "immediate plans" to contact Russian President Vladimir Putin, but would be "prepared" to speak with him if the Russian president is interested in finding a way to end the war on Ukraine.  

Mr. Biden made the remark during a joint press conference Thursday afternoon with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House, in which the two leaders presented a united front in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. Mr. Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed the French president and his wife, Brigitte Macron, to the White House on Thursday for the first state visit of the Biden presidency. 

"The fact of the matter is, I have no immediate plans to contact Mr. Putin," Mr. Biden said, when a reporter asked about any potential future conversations he'll have with the Russian president. "I'm prepared to speak with Mr. Putin if in fact there is an interest in him deciding he's looking for a way to end the war. He hasn't done that yet. If that's the case, in consultation with my French and my NATO friends, I'll be happy to sit down with Putin to see what he has in mind. He hasn't done that yet. In the meantime, I think it's absolutely critical, what Emmanuel said — we must support the Ukrainian people. The idea that Putin is ever going to defeat Ukraine is beyond comprehension." 

Mr. Biden said he and the French president reiterated their commitment to standing with Ukraine in talks earlier in the day. The U.S. president said the U.S. and French nations also stand with the people of Iran. 

"If I listed all the areas where cooperation between France and the United States were delivering meaningful progress, we'd be here until dinnertime," Mr. Biden said. 

Through a translator, Macron said they committed to continuing to work together to helping the Ukrainian people resist the Russians. Macron said they're working in close cooperation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

Macron was asked by a U.S. reporter if he petitioned Mr. Biden to encourage Ukraine to negotiate an end to Russia's war. Macron said the United States' support of Ukraine is "very important," not just for Ukrainians, "but for the stability of our world today." 

"Let me just say that our two nations are made of values and history," Macron said of the U.S. and France, the oldest American ally. "And what is at stake in Ukraine is not just very far from here in a small country somewhere in Europe. But it's about our values and our principles, and it's about what we agreed together in the U,N. Charter — protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity."

On an issue closer to home, Mr. Biden was asked if freight workers deserve more paid sick leave, a major sticking point in contract talks that has sparked congressional action to avoid a strike. A contract negotiated by the White House in September was rejected by four out of 12 rail unions, threatening a possible nationwide rail worker strike. The agreement includes just a day of paid sick leave, although it does have a 24% raise for rail workers. The Senate is expected to vote Thursday on two House-passed measures , one imposing the agreed contract and one adding paid sick days to that contract.

"I negotiated a contract no one else could negotiate. The only thing that was left out was whether there was paid leave," Mr. Biden said, adding that the U.S. is a rare wealthy nation without guaranteed paid leave. Mr. Biden added that he wants nationwide paid sick leave "not just for rail workers, but for all workers." 

Earlier Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were on hand for the Macrons' arrival, and a military band played the national anthems of both nations before the two leaders addressed the crowd.

"As my friend and I were talking, France is our oldest ally. Our unwavering partner in freedom's cause," the U.S. president said, offering appreciation for France's partnership in defending democracy.

Mr. Biden and Macron both noted the importance of standing up for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

"France and the United States are facing down Vladimir Putin's grasping ambition for conquest, and Russia's brutal war against Ukraine, which has once more shattered peace on the continent of Europe," Mr. Biden said. "France and the United States are once again defending the democratic values and universal human rights which are the heart of both our nations. The wellspring of our strength is a shared commitment to liberty and justice for all — liberté, égalité, fraternité."

At the top of the bilateral meeting, Mr. Biden said Macron has been a commanding leader not only of France, but in Europe. Macron emphasized the need for "sustainable peace," and said they want to "fix" the direct and indirect consequences of Russia's war on Ukraine. Macron also thanked Mr. Biden for the dinner he and his wife shared with the president and first lady Wednesday night at Filomena, a high-end Italian restaurant in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Biden and the first lady will host the Macrons for a state dinner, an event previewed by the first lady Wednesday. Between 300 and 400 guests are expected to attend the event on the South Lawn, where temperatures are expected to be in the high 30s or low 40s by Thursday evening. 

As the official gift, the president and first lady presented the Macrons with a custom mirror made of fallen wood from the White House grounds. It's a reproduction of a mirror for the White House collection that hangs in the West Wing. Mr. Biden also gave the French president a custom vinyl collection of great American musicians. 

Mr. Biden and Macron have spoken numerous times over the president's time in office and met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Macron also traveled to the U.S. for a state visit hosted by former President Donald Trump in 2018. First elected to lead France in 2017, Macron defeated far-right challenger Marine Le Pen to win a second term in April.

Kathryn Watson is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital based in Washington, D.C.

Biden Plans to Welcome Kenyan President to White House for State Visit in May

President Joe Biden plans to welcome Kenyan President William Ruto to the White House in May, hosting a state visit after reneging on his promise to visit Africa last year

Andrew Harnik

FILE - The White House is seen at sunset in Washington, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. President Joe Biden plans to welcome Kenyan President William Ruto to the White House in May, hosting a state visit after reneging on his promise to visit Africa last year. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced Friday that the visit set for May 23. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden plans to welcome Kenyan President William Ruto to the White House in May, hosting a state visit after reneging on his promise to visit Africa last year .

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced Friday that the visit set for May 23 will mark the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations and “celebrate a partnership that is delivering for the people” of both countries while affirming “our strategic partnership” with Ruto's country.

It “will strengthen our shared commitment to advance peace and security, expand our economic ties, and stand together in defense of democratic values,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement. “The leaders will discuss ways to bolster our cooperation in areas including people-to-people ties, trade and investment, technological innovation, climate and clean energy, health, and security.”

Word of Ruto's visit comes after Haiti announced this week that it is working on an official agreement with Kenyan officials to secure the long-awaited deployment of Kenyan police forces there. High-ranking officials from both countries recently met in the U.S. for three days to draft a memorandum of understanding and set a deadline for the arrival of forces in Haiti from the east African country.

Jean-Pierre added Friday that, beyond Kenya, Rutto’s visit to Washington will "further the vision” that “African leadership is essential to addressing global priorities.”

First lady Jill Biden traveled to Kenya last February during a five-day, two-country tour of the continent. The White House also confirmed that both Ruto and Kenyan first lady Rachel Ruto will be honored with a dinner with the Bidens.

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The White House hosted a state dinner celebrating close ally Australia in October , which followed the president's skipping a stop in that country earlier in 2023 to focus on debt limit talks in Washington. But those festivities last fall were toned down some given Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas .

Biden said in December 2022 that he would visit sub-Saharan Africa the following year, which would have made him the first U.S. president to travel there in a decade. The president pledged at the end of a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington with 49 leaders, in which he suggested the continent would be a strategic focus as the U.S. made political and financial commitments.

But other priorities interceded in 2023. Biden pulled off last-minute trips to Israel and Vietnam , as well as a secretive journey to Ukraine . He ended last year by skipping a December U.N. climate change conference in Dubai, while sending Vice President Kamala Harris in his place , and never scheduled an Africa trip.

Biden is now seeking reelection in November's election while juggling a host of pressing foreign security matters, including the Israel-Hamas war and continuing discussion in Congress over proposed foreign aid for Ukraine amid its war with Russia .

On Friday he traveled to East Palestine, Ohio, making good on months of saying he'd visit the site of a Norfolk Southern train derailment that spilled a cocktail of hazardous chemicals and caught fire in February 2023.

Vice President Kamala also spoke Friday at the Munich Security Conference and was asked about Washington’s “growing transitional mindset” toward Africa — a characterization she disputed, countering that “the future has to be about partnership and investment.”

“I believe that we must think differently about the relationship between the United States and the continent of Africa,” the vice president said, adding, “We look at the future of the continent and how it will affect the world: It is indisputable. There will be a direct impact.”

Harris noted that the median age on the African continent is 19 and that population growth means that, in coming decades, as many as 1 in 4 people in the world will live there.

“In terms of the future, we must see the innovation that is currently happening there and partner with African leaders and nations,” she said. “And change the way we are thinking, in a way that is not about aid, but about partnership. Not what we do for the continent, but what we do with the continent and its leaders.”

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Biden plans to welcome Kenyan president to White House for state visit in May

FILE - The White House is seen at sunset in Washington, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. President Joe Biden plans to welcome Kenyan President William Ruto to the White House in May, hosting a state visit after reneging on his promise to visit Africa last year. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced Friday that the visit set for May 23. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden plans to welcome Kenyan President William Ruto to the White House in May, hosting a state visit after reneging on his promise to visit Africa last year .

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced Friday that the visit set for May 23 will mark the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations and “celebrate a partnership that is delivering for the people” of both countries while affirming “our strategic partnership” with Ruto’s country.

It “will strengthen our shared commitment to advance peace and security, expand our economic ties, and stand together in defense of democratic values,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement. “The leaders will discuss ways to bolster our cooperation in areas including people-to-people ties, trade and investment, technological innovation, climate and clean energy, health, and security.”

Word of Ruto’s visit comes after Haiti announced this week that it is working on an official agreement with Kenyan officials to secure the long-awaited deployment of Kenyan police forces there. High-ranking officials from both countries recently met in the U.S. for three days to draft a memorandum of understanding and set a deadline for the arrival of forces in Haiti from the east African country.

Jean-Pierre added Friday that, beyond Kenya, Rutto’s visit to Washington will “further the vision” that “African leadership is essential to addressing global priorities.”

First lady Jill Biden traveled to Kenya last February during a five-day, two-country tour of the continent. The White House also confirmed that both Ruto and Kenyan first lady Rachel Ruto will be honored with a dinner with the Bidens.

The White House hosted a state dinner celebrating close ally Australia in October , which followed the president’s skipping a stop in that country earlier in 2023 to focus on debt limit talks in Washington. But those festivities last fall were toned down some given Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas .

Biden said in December 2022 that he would visit sub-Saharan Africa the following year, which would have made him the first U.S. president to travel there in a decade. The president pledged at the end of a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington with 49 leaders, in which he suggested the continent would be a strategic focus as the U.S. made political and financial commitments.

But other priorities interceded in 2023. Biden pulled off last-minute trips to Israel and Vietnam , as well as a secretive journey to Ukraine . He ended last year by skipping a December U.N. climate change conference in Dubai, while sending Vice President Kamala Harris in his place , and never scheduled an Africa trip.

Biden is now seeking reelection in November’s election while juggling a host of pressing foreign security matters, including the Israel-Hamas war and continuing discussion in Congress over proposed foreign aid for Ukraine amid its war with Russia .

On Friday he traveled to East Palestine, Ohio, making good on months of saying he’d visit the site of a Norfolk Southern train derailment that spilled a cocktail of hazardous chemicals and caught fire in February 2023.

Vice President Kamala also spoke Friday at the Munich Security Conference and was asked about Washington’s “growing transitional mindset” toward Africa — a characterization she disputed, countering that “the future has to be about partnership and investment.”

“I believe that we must think differently about the relationship between the United States and the continent of Africa,” the vice president said, adding, “We look at the future of the continent and how it will affect the world: It is indisputable. There will be a direct impact.”

Harris noted that the median age on the African continent is 19 and that population growth means that, in coming decades, as many as 1 in 4 people in the world will live there.

“In terms of the future, we must see the innovation that is currently happening there and partner with African leaders and nations,” she said. “And change the way we are thinking, in a way that is not about aid, but about partnership. Not what we do for the continent, but what we do with the continent and its leaders.”

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State Visits to the White House

State Visits are a key part of presidential diplomacy helping to develop and maintain relationships with other countries. These visits involve a rigorous schedule, including an Arrival Ceremony, diplomatic talks, a State Dinner, and entertainment in the East Room.

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Second gentleman Doug Emhoff to visit Arizona for a White House event, NCAA Final Four

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, will visit Arizona on Monday.

Emhoff will host an event focused on “lowering costs for Americans,” and he will attend the NCAA men’s basketball championship game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, the White House told The Arizona Republic.

His announcement means that the president, vice president and their spouses all will have separately visited Arizona since the beginning of March –  a sign of Arizona’s paramount importance in President Joe Biden’s re-election effort this year.

In 2020, Biden defeated his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, in Arizona by less than half a percentage point.

Biden visited Arizona in mid-March to mobilize Latino voters and announce a multibillion-dollar grant for technology giant Intel Corp. under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. 

Shortly before that, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a speech in Phoenix to criticize Republican-led efforts to restrict abortion.

And first lady Jill Biden visited Tucson in early March for another event centered on abortion.

That’s on top of other surrogates, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer , a co-chair of Biden’s re-election bid, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. , the ranking member of the influential House Oversight and Accountability Committee, who have both visited Arizona recently to campaign on behalf of Biden.

It’s not Emhoff’s first visit to Arizona during the current administration. In 2023, he visited the state with Harris and met with military veterans from the Gila River Indian Community in Laveen Village. And in 2021, Emhoff and Jill Biden toured a pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Phoenix to encourage people to get vaccinated.

Emhoff’s event focused on the cost of living comes at a moment when polling suggests the public’s confidence in Biden’s economic leadership remains low to middling.

During the pandemic, inflation soared to 13% in metro Phoenix, which at the time was the highest of any major U.S. city. Voters nationwide tend to say they have less confidence in Biden to helm the economy compared with Trump, his Republican opponent in the November election.

Biden’s advisers have been eager to point out that inflation has fallen steeply since its peak during the pandemic, faster than in most of the U.S.’ economic peer nations, and that consumers’ confidence in the economy appears to be rising.

There’s debate among economists whether Americans’ current negativity towards the U.S. economy is warranted. So far, Biden has sought to validate voters’ skepticism even while arguing he has made progress on the issue.

“I inherited an economy that was on the brink. Now our economy is the envy of the world!” Biden said in his recent prime-time State of the Union address. He continued later in the speech: “And there’s more to do to make sure you’re feeling the benefits of all we’re doing."

Laura Gersony covers national politics for the Arizona Republic. Contact her at [email protected] or 480-372-0389.

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.

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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.

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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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Biden announces plans to address Baltimore port closure and help workers after deadly bridge collapse

After visiting the site of the deadly Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse on Friday, President Joe Biden said that his administration is taking swift action to try to ease the disruption at Baltimore's port and help workers and small businesses affected by the port closure.

After an aerial tour of the site, Biden said that the federal government will provide more than $8 million in grant funds to make infrastructure improvements to the port at Baltimore's Sparrows Point — an area unaffected by the bridge collapse — so it can take on more ships.

The president also announced that his administration would provide grants to workers affected by the pause in port operations and said the Small Business Administration would offer low-interest loans for small businesses impacted by the incident last week.

"I’m here to say your nation has your back," Biden said. "The damage is devastating and our hearts are still breaking," he continued, noting that six workers who were fixing potholes on the bridge lost their lives.

"I’ve come here to grieve with you," he said, flanked by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and other Maryland and Baltimore officials. "It’s not the same, but I know a little bit about what it’s like to lose a piece of your soul."

Biden reiterated that he wants Congress to pass funding to cover the entire cost of constructing a new bridge. He also said that, so far, two small channels have been cleared for ships helping to clear the wreckage and noted the tentative timeline for reopening the port announced Thursday by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The Army Corps of Engineers expects “to open a limited access channel for barge container service and some vessels that move automobiles and farm equipment by the end of April” and “restore the port to normal capacity by the end of May,” the White House said.

In addition to the aerial tour, Biden received an operational update on response efforts from the Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers and was expected to meet personally with the families of the six workers who died.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early on the morning of March 26 when a cargo ship crashed into a support pillar. The remains of two people who were killed have been recovered, four others are presumed dead and two people who fell into the water survived.

Biden addressed the disaster during remarks in the hours following the collapse, saying that the White House would send “all the federal resources they need” and that they would rebuild the port. He also said that he intended for the federal government to pay the entire cost of reconstructing the bridge.

Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young sent a letter to congressional leaders on Friday asking them to authorize "a 100 percent Federal cost share for rebuilding the bridge."

“To the people of Baltimore, I want to say: We’re with you. We’re going to stay with you as long as takes. And like [Moore] said, you’re Maryland tough, you’re Baltimore strong, and we’re going to get through this together,” Biden said during his remarks last week. “And I promise: We’re not leaving.”

The National Economic Council has also convened the administration's Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force to coordinate federal efforts to support affected industries in the aftermath of the collapse, the White House announced last week.

“We are much better equipped to mitigate supply chain disruptions than we were just a few years ago, thanks to increased coordination across the supply chain and new efforts to strengthen both our physical and digital infrastructure,” Buttigieg said in a statement.

Also last week, the Department of Transportation announced $60 million in emergency relief funds to go toward rebuilding the bridge. The White House said it would serve as a "down payment" for initial costs.

In 2023, the Baltimore port near the bridge, a key shipping hub and source of jobs, “handled a record 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo, worth $80 billion,” Moore announced in February. The port also generated more than 15,000 direct jobs, “with nearly 140,000 jobs linked to port activities,” he said in the statement.

Megan Lebowitz is a politics reporter for NBC News.

Rebecca Shabad is a politics reporter for NBC News based in Washington.

Biden visits Baltimore to survey bridge collapse, recovery

President Biden is visiting Baltimore on Friday to survey the wreckage from the Francis Scott Key Bridge that collapsed last week. In addition to an aerial tour, Biden is getting an operational update on work being done to reopen the Port of Baltimore and will meet with family members of those who died during the collapse, the White House said.

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Election 2024

Get the latest news on the 2024 election from our reporters on the campaign trail and in Washington.

Who is running? President Biden and Donald Trump both secured their parties’ nominations for the presidency , formalizing a general-election rematch.

Key issues: Compare where the candidates stand on such issues as abortion, climate and the economy.

Key dates and events: From January to June, voters in all states and U.S. territories will pick their party’s nominee for president ahead of the summer conventions. Here are key dates and events on the 2024 election calendar .

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Visit The White House

The President and Dr. Biden are delighted to welcome members of the public to tour the White House. Public tour requests are scheduled through your 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 Representatives 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.  

Public tours are typically available from 9:30 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.

Identification Requirements

All U.S. citizens ages 18 and older, and foreign nationals of all ages (including children), must present a valid, government-issued photo ID upon arrival for their tour. Acceptable forms of identification are below.

U.S. CITIZENS

• United States Driver’s License
• Valid United States Passport
• United States Military ID

FOREIGN NATIONALS

• Valid Passport
• Alien Registration Card
• Permanent Resident Card
• U.S. State Department Issued Diplomatic ID Card

A U.S. driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification for foreign nationals. No foreign-issued state IDs, foreign-issued driver’s licenses, expired passports, photocopies, other transmissions of these documents, or other forms of identification will be accepted. Individuals without acceptable identification, or whose identification does not exactly match the information previously registered, may be denied entry.

Prohibited Items

• Bags of any kind (including fanny packs and clutches)
• Cameras with detachable lenses
• Electric stun guns
• E-cigarettes
• Knives of any kind
• Martial arts
• Tobacco Products
• Toy Weapons
• Video cameras
• Weapons/devices
• Any pointed object
• Any other item determined to be a potential safety hazard

Please note that storage facilities are not provided during your visit. Individuals who arrive with bags or prohibited items will not be permitted to enter the White House.

Permitted Items

• Baby carriers worn on the body
• Breast pumps
• Cell phones
• Compact cameras with lenses less than 3 inches
• Umbrellas without metal tips
• All items needed for medical purposes (i.e. wheelchairs, EpiPens, medication, etc.)

Getting Here

Use of public transportation is strongly encouraged, as there is no parking available on the White House complex and street parking is limited. The closest Metrorail stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines), Metro Center (blue, orange, silver, and red lines), and McPherson Square (blue, orange, and silver lines).

The White House Tour entrance is located in Sherman Park at 15th Street NW and Alexander Hamilton Place NW. If arriving by rideshare, use the White House Visitor Center (WHVC) as the drop-off address. The WHVC is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20230, which is one block from the White House.

Restrooms are located at the White House Visitors Center, located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20230. There are no restrooms available once you arrive for your tour.

Accessibility

The White House tour route is wheelchair accessible. Visitors who wish to use a White House wheelchair should notify a U.S. Secret Service officer upon arrival.

Guide animals are permitted in the White House.

Health and Safety Guidance

Guests who receive a confirmed tour reservation will be issued a White House Tour Pass ahead of their tour date containing pertinent health and safety guidance.

Know Before You Go

• Tours are self-guided and last approximately 45 minutes
• Eat a snack and stay hydrated prior to arrival.
• Dress for the weather, knowing you will be outside before your tour.
• Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time.
• No late arrivals are accepted.
• All guests must be previously registered via the RSVP link provided by the White House.
• Please silence your cell phone and refrain from phone calls during the tour.
• No flash photography or video recording is permitted during your tour.
• Visitors may call the 24-hour Visitors Office information line at 202-456-7041 for latest updates and information relevant to White House tours.

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Biden vows feds will pay for ‘all’ of Baltimore bridge reconstruction despite House GOP pushback

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President Biden promised Friday in Baltimore that the federal government will pay for “all” of the cost of rebuilding the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge — while saying he’d try to squeeze the “party responsible” to contribute to the “fullest extent the law will allow.”

Biden took a helicopter over the disaster zone where six construction workers died March 26 before receiving a briefing on efforts to reopen Baltimore Harbor’s channels for ships that carry much of the nation’s coal exports and car and farm equipment imports.

“Everyone including Congress should be asking only one question, and they’re going to be asked the question by your delegation: How can we help?” Biden said.

House Republicans in the conservative Freedom Caucus are urging the president to use already appropriated funds while forcing the owner and operator of the Singapore-flagged ship MV Dali, which struck the bridge, to foot the bill.

“My administration is committed to ensuring that the party responsible for this tragedy pay to repair the damage and be held accountable to the fullest extent the law will allow,” Biden said.

“But I also want to be clear: We will support Maryland and Baltimore every step of the way to help you rebuild and maintain all the business and commerce that’s here now.”

Biden added: “I fully intend, as the governor knows, that the federal government cover the cost of building this entire bridge — all of it — as we’ve done in other parts of the country in similar circumstances. I call on Congress to authorize this effort as soon as possible.”

The influential House Freedom Caucus said Friday that it opposes a fast-tracked federal appropriation for bridge repairs.

“Before Congress considers any emergency supplemental funding… it’s important that (1) we first seek maximum liability from the foreign shipping companies upfront and (2) the Port of Baltimore draws upon already available federal funds,”  the group said .

“If it proves necessary to appropriate taxpayer money to get one of America’s busiest ports back online, Congress should ensure it is fully offset and that burdensome regulations (such as NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, the Davis Bacon Act, project labor agreements, etc.) are waived to avoid all unnecessary delays and costs.”

Biden said in his brief speech at the harbor that after clearing two small channels for wreckage removal operations, the Army Corps of Engineers projects that “by the end of April, they’ll be able to open a third channel for some commercial traffic including car carriers and by the end of May we’ll open the full channel.”

Reconstruction of the bridge could take years, officials have said. The Key Bridge opened in 1977 after five years of contstruction.

“First is our priority to reopen the port,” said Biden ahead of meeting with relatives of those who died in the bridge collapse. “Thousands of tons of mangled steel remain lodged in the water, blocking ships from moving in and out of the harbor.”

Biden touted $60 million in emergency funding already approved by his administration to address the disaster, including to provide aid to an estimated 20,000 workers whose jobs are impacted by the disaster.

The White House also announced millions of dollars more in  funding for the Port of Baltimore , including an $8.26 million grant to more than double the port’s capacity for cargo vessels carrying cars to and from Sparrows Point southeast of Baltimore City,  according to a White House fact sheet .

The Labor Department also  released $3.5 million  in funding from its Dislocated Worker Grants Program to help train or subsidize workers whose jobs were affected by the bridge disaster, as well as to assist with other clean-up.

The total cost of the bridge’s collapse into the Patapsco River could amount to  as much as $4 billion , insurance analysts say, with  at least $400 million  going toward bridge construction alone.

It’s not yet clear why the Dali, which lost propulsion ahead of striking the bridge, experienced the technological issues.

Ahead of Biden’s Friday visit to Charm City, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young asked leaders of Senate and House committees dealing with infrastructure to fully “fund the repair and rebuild of the bridge.”

The damage caused when the Singapore-flagged MV Dali struck the suspension bridge, causing it to collapse into the Patapsco River could amount to as much as $4 billion , insurance analysts say.

Ahead of President Biden’s Friday visit to Charm City, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young also asked leaders of Senate and House committees dealing with infrastructure to fully “fund the repair and rebuild of the bridge.”

“While we continue to assess those costs alongside our Federal and State partners, we are asking Congress to join us in demonstrating our commitment to aid in recovery efforts by authorizing a 100 [%] Federal cost share for rebuilding the bridge,” Young wrote in a letter to the lawmakers.

“This authorization would be consistent with past catastrophic bridge collapses, including in 2007 when the Congress acted in a bipartisan manner within days of the I-35W bridge collapse in Minnesota ,” she added.

The letter’s recipients included Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.).

“Chairman Carper is reviewing and speaking with his colleagues about the request,” a spokesperson from the Environment and Public Works Committee told The Post. “He is committed to helping Maryland recover as quickly as possible and to supporting all federal efforts to get both the port operational and the bridge restored.” 

A House committee aide told The Post that the funding is required to come from the Federal Highway Administration and other agencies for the next nine months before Congress would need to step in.

“The most immediate concern is reopening a navigable channel and the port work that is underway,” the aide said. “At this time, there has not been any indication of an urgent need for an emergency appropriation, although we expect that will eventually come.”

Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) said last week it would be “ outrageous ” for taxpayers’ money to be used “to pay for the entirety” of the bridge rebuild, noting that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had already suggested insurance funding could bear some of that cost.

The $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package signed into law by Biden in November 2021 also contained “$400 billion in excess,” Meuser added, of which $5 billion was allocated for Maryland.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told reporters in a White House press briefing that around $950 million in emergency funding was already available — and Young emphasized in her letter that the administration would consider “all avenues to recover the costs.”

The day after the bridge collapse, Biden promised to “move heaven and Earth” to federally fund the effort by constructing a new bridge and rebuilding the port, which ships between $100 and $200 million worth of goods per day and employs roughly 8,000 workers.

In addition to blocking shipping lanes, the collapse prevented tens of thousands of cars from being able to bypass the city on Interstate 695, known as the Baltimore Beltway.

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