washington dc white house tours 2023

White House Announces 2023 Spring Garden Tour Dates

The event will take place the first weekend of april., by thayma sánchez • published march 14, 2023 • updated on march 15, 2023 at 6:21 am.

In just weeks, you will be able to enjoy guided walks through the gardens and patios of the White House.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden announced on Tuesday that tours will be open to the public on Saturday, April 1, and Sunday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Although the event is free, tickets are required and will be available in a tent located outside the White House Visitor Center both days beginning at 8:30 a.m. Tickets will be available while they last, according to the press release.

The Spring Garden Tour entry point is located on 15th Street NW between E Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW. Advance reservations are not available, the White House said.

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Guided walks through the gardens of the Executive Mansion are held in spring and fall.

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Visiting the White House- How to Get a White House Tour and What to Expect

Visiting the White House is the opportunity of a lifetime. The White House tour is one of my most memorable experiences from all of my trips to Washington, DC. It requires a bit of planning to schedule a tour of the White House. Trust me when I say that it is well worth the effort!

Table of Contents

How to Schedule a Tour of the White House

The National Park Service no longer schedules tours of the White House. Instead, in order to secure a public tour, you must reach out to a Member of Congress ( find your representative here ). Requests must be made at least 21 days in advance, and up to three months out. We suggest submitting your request as early as possible since a limited number of spaces are available.

Tours are typically available from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM Tuesdays through Saturdays excluding federal holidays. The tours are free of charge.

At this time, embassies are not scheduling tours for international visitors.  

After contacting your Congressperson, you’ll receive an email letting you know whether or not there are any White House tours available during your visit to Washington, DC. You will receive an email 2-3 weeks before your requested dates indicating whether or not the date is available.

If there are time slots available during your visit, you are assigned a specific day and time for your White House tour. Weirdly, when we requested our tour we received an email telling us there were no tours available. A couple of days later, I received a second email confirming our visit. At this time, I submitted our social security numbers and full names to the White House.

Once we received clearance, we received a “Boarding Pass” that we had to present to the Secret Service Agents, along with our IDs.

Required Documentation

In order to gain access to the White House, you’ll need to bring a copy of the letter of approval (a digital copy is okay) and a government-issued photo ID.  Acceptable forms of identification include driver’s license, passport, military ID.

Items Prohibited on the White House Tour

• Aerosol sprays
• Bags of any kind (including backpacks, purses, diaper bags, fanny packs, etc).
• Cameras with detachable lenses
• Weapons of any kid
• E-cigarettes, lighters, matches, tobacco products, drugs
• Foods and drinks
• Liquids of any kind
• Monopods & Tripods
• Toy weapons
• Video Cameras
• Pointed objects
• Any item determined to be a potential safety hazard

There are no storage facilities available during the White House tour.  There are also no restrooms available for public use.  We suggest using the restroom at the White House Visitor Center prior to your tour.

So... what can you bring...?

Honestly, you should plan on bringing as little as possible.  We brought our boarding pass, IDs, a credit card, a camera, a metro card, and an inhaler.  

Visitors will have to pass through strict security prior to entering the White House.  You’ll need to present your boarding pass, and ID cards (twice).

• Baby carriers worn on the body
• Breast pumps
• Cell phones
• Compact cameras with lenses less than 3 inches
• Umbrellas without metal tips
• Necessary medications

Remember, there is no storage available at the White House for guests.  If your hotel is nearby, we suggest leaving your belongings in your room.  If your hotel is far away, you can get a locker at Union Station.  The lockers are located near Gate A and are available from 6 am until 10 pm.  You’ll need a photo ID to get a locker.  The cost is $3-6 per hour depending on the size of your bag.

Arriving for the White House Tour

Parking around the White House is limited, so we strongly suggest using public transportation. The White House is easily accessible via the metro.

The closest metro stations are Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange lines), Metro Center (Blue/Orange/Silver/Red lines), and McPherson Square (Blue/Orange/Silver lines).

If arriving via rideshare , use the White House Visitor Center as the drop-off address. The White House Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

The White House Tour entrance is located in Sherman Park at 15th Street NW and Alexander Hamilton Place NW.  We suggest stopping by the White House Visitor Center prior to your tour to use the restroom since there are no restrooms available for public use at the White House.

Know Before You Go

• Tours are self-guided and last about 45 minutes.
• Dress for the weather – you’ll need to wait outside until your tour beings.
• Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time . Late arrivals may be turned away.
• A National Park Ranger will help ensure you’re lined up with the proper group and will have Junior Ranger booklets available.
• All guests must be previous registered via the RSVP link provided by the White House (via email).
• No flash photography or videography is permitted (there will be Secret Service agents in every room)
• Although the tour is self-guided, the Secret Service Agents can be a wealth of knowledge about the items found in each room.

What Rooms Will I See on the White House Tour?

Prior to our trip I did a lot of research on what rooms we’d be able to see during our White House Tour.  Every website I checked listed the Blue Room, Red Room, Green Room, the State Dining Room and a view of the White House Rose Garden.

Much to my surprise, we actually got to see additional rooms!  One our tour, we toured both the State Floor and the Ground Floor.  We saw the movie theater, library, the East Room, Vermeil Room, China Room, State Dining Room, Green Room, Blue Room, and Red Room.

The White House tour was interesting.   Walking into the White House, I expected it to be just as opulent as  the Biltmore House and palaces such as the Tower of London and Versailles in Europe.  I was rather surprised to find that the rooms were much less stately.  The vibe felt a little more like going to visit your grandparents house, rather than the head of a country’s home.

That being said, it was really cool being able to marvel at the historical artifacts that decorate the White House.  We got to see Shikler’s portrait of JFK along with other portraits of past presidents, first ladies, and influential Americans like Benjamin Franklin.  It was very cool walking through the halls of the White House and retracing the footsteps of our nation’s leaders.

Secret Service agents are posted in each of the rooms.  Although the tour is self-guided, the Secret Service agents are a wealth of knowledge and will happily tell you about the history of the rooms and even give you the background information the art (and even artists!) and decor in each room.  Don’t be afraid to ask them questions- these ladies and gents are much more approachable than the guards at Buckingham Palace. 

Having the privilege of taking a tour of the White House is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  It is definitely something every American should do at least once in their lifetime!

What is There to do Nearby?

• The White House Visitor Center
• Ford’s Theatre
• National Children’s Museum
• National Archives Museum
• National Portrait Gallery
• National Museum of African American History
• Museum of Natural History
• National Museum of American History
• National Air and Space Museum
• National Gallery of Art
• National Museum of the American Indian
• Library of Congress
•  US Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Washington Monument
• World War II Memorial
• Lincoln Memorial
• Korean War Veterans Memorial
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial

FAQ About the White House Tour

Can you visit the white house as a toursit.

Yes! You do not need an invitation for the White House tour.  You do, however, need to request a tour via a Member of Congress. 

Who is allowed to take a White House tour?

All U.S. citizens 18 years and older are able to request a tour of the White House.  Visitors 18 and older need to present a valid, government-issued ID.  At the time of publication, only American citizens are able to visit the White House.

Are kids allowed in the White House?

Yes!  This is a great place for kids to experience.  When we visited our twins were 4 and our daughter was 8.  This is a great way for kids to develop background knowledge for things they’ll learn in school!

Fun Fact:   While we were in the White House, we had to remind one of the boys not to touch anything.  In response, he made a face at Ashley behind her back. One of the Secret Service Agents laughed and said, “Man, you should have seen the face he gave you.”

Is there a dress code for the White House?

There is no set dress code for the White House.  Since we were visiting multiple places on the day of our tour of the White House, we wore jeans.

Visitors should plan on waiting in a line outside of the White House, prior to their tour, and should plan to dress for the weather outside.

How long does the White House Tour take?

Since the White House tour is unguided, you can take as much time as you need to see everything.  Most people spend about 30 – 45 minutes.

Can you take photos in the White House?

Photography is permitted so long as it does not interfere with other guests tour experience.  Phones and cameras with lenses no longer than 3 inches are allowed inside the White House.

Can I meet the President on the White House tour?

No, tours are limited to the East Wing.  The West Wing, and the Oval Office, are reserved for VIPs or guests of the President.

Save Our Info on Scoring a White House Tour

For future reference, be sure to save our post on getting a tour of the White House!   Pin one of the images below to Pinterest.  Go ahead and follow 5 Suitcases on Pinterest  while you’re at it!

If you’re planning a trip to Washington, DC, check out our 4 day itinerary and our list of 15 Must See Places in Washington, DC .  

Be sure to give us a like on  Facebook  or follow us on  Instagram   and  Twitter   for more travel tips and tricks. See you next time!

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Hello, thank you for the post about how to visit the White House! I was happy to find something beyond just the official government website. When you requested a tour via email, did you have to do anything besides ask? Do they pick and chose based on why a person is visiting? Just wanting to know how much information to put into my email request! Thanks!

Elle MacRae

Hey, Casey! In my initial email, I just sent the dates that we would be in DC and listed the names of each person in my group. Most states will send out a form for you to fill out with any specific information needed.

Dear _____,

My name is _____________. My family will be visiting Washington, DC between _______ and _______. We are interested in touring the White House and hope you could help us facilitate this. The following people will be traveling with me: ________________. Please let me know what further details you need in order to set up a tour during our visit.

Respectfully,

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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White house visitor center, features many aspects of the white house, including its architecture, furnishings, first families and social events..

The White House Visitor Center is a nearly 1,600 square foot museum-caliber visitor experience featuring interactive exhibits, a large-scale model of the White House, numerous tactile exhibits, museum galleries, a temporary exhibit area, and the White House Historical Association retail shop. The Visitor Center provides a window into the Executive Mansion and its history as a companion to a White House tour, or as a stand-alone experience for those without a tour. Nearly 100 artifacts are on display, some for the first timesuch as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s desk. The White House Visitor Center is operated by the National Park Service and is housed in historic Baldrige Hall in the Department of Commerce building. The Center includes a flagship retail store for the White House Historical Association that features new and treasured items that support their mission of enhancing the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the White House. The Visitor Center was designed with a strong focus on accessibility for all visitors, and the project team worked closely with the National Center for Accessibility to achieve a fully accessible experience. To plan your visit to the White House Visitor Center, please visit the National Park Service website.

Additional Information

Metro station.

Federal Triangle, Metro Center

1450 Pennsylvania Ave. NW U.S. Dept. of Commerce Bldg. Washington , DC 20230 United States

(202) 208-1631.

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White House tours are back: Here's what you need to know

I remember visiting the White House for the first time during former President George H.W. Bush's time in office.

A friend with a friend who worked in the Washington, D.C., landmark at the time — if that isn't a quintessential D.C. thing to say, I don't know what is — was couch surfing at my place and wanted to "pay" me with a tour of the presidential mansion.

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I happily accepted the offer and, not long after, found myself exploring the iconic building. In addition to checking out the usual rooms included in the tour, my friend scored us a peek inside the Oval Office, an experience I'll never forget.

Like many sites in D.C., the White House paused tours of its interior due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But after 14 months, the Biden Administration announced that tours will resume on Friday and Saturday mornings starting April 15.

As was the case before the pandemic, you can't just show up and ask for tickets. Instead, you'll need to plan your visit weeks in advance.

Before you finalize your itinerary, here's everything you need to know about White House tours, plus suggestions for where to stay nearby.

Although the White House is managed by the National Park Service, you can't reach out to the agency to get tickets. Instead, you'll need to request them from your member of Congress (or your embassy, if you're not a U.S. resident). You can do this between three months and 21 days in advance.

Tours are limited to Friday and Saturday mornings (excluding federal holidays or unless otherwise noted) from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, so you'll want to request your tickets as early as possible.

When you submit your request, be sure to include three potential dates for your tour, as well as the number of individuals in your party. Try to avoid the Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day and Christmas holidays, as tickets are a lot harder to come by during these busy times.

While you'll have a set tour time when you receive your tickets, know that unexpected events may occasionally cause your tour to be canceled at the last minute. If this happens, you'll need to submit a new request for a tour.

On the day of your tour, all members of your group who are 18 and older will need to present a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or military ID (or a passport, if they're from another country). Each person's name, date of birth, city and state given for the reserved tickets must exactly match the government-issued photo ID presented.

While face masks are not required during the tour, they will be available on site should you want to wear one. Items you're welcome to bring on the tour include:

• Compact cameras with lenses shorter than 3 inches long.
• Umbrellas without metal tips.
• Small personal items like wallets and cellphones.
• Items needed for medical purposes, such as wheelchairs (which you also can request at the Visitors Entrance), medications and mobility aids.

Keep in mind, though, that the White House's strict security protocols mean certain items are not permitted inside. These include:

• Video cameras, cameras with detachable lenses, tablets, iPads, tripods, monopods and cameras sticks.
• Bags of any kind (handbags, purses, book bags, backpacks, diaper bags and camera bags).
• Any pointed object, including pocket knives.
• Food, liquids, aerosols, tobacco products and personal grooming items (makeup, lotion, etc.).
• Guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons and devices, toy weapons and knives of any kind.

There is no storage available at the White House or the White House Visitor Center, so plan on keeping any prohibited items in your hotel safe or leaving them with a companion who isn't taking the tour.

What you'll see

After you've made your way through security, you'll embark on an hourlong tour that includes stops at several well-known spots in the building, including the family theater, the East Room (which you may recognize from press conferences and special events), the State Dining Room (a banquet hall and ceremonial chamber for official events) and the Blue Room (a reception room famous for its decorations during the holiday season).

Depending on what's going on during your visit (or who you know), you may also have the chance to see other spaces like the Oval Office and the South Lawn, where Marine One (the presidential helicopter) lands and departs.

To supplement your White House tour, check out the adjacent White House Visitor Center . Open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the center is home to roughly 100 historical artifacts and offers an interactive touchscreen tour of the White House.

There's also the nearby White House Historical Association retail store , which sells a great selection of souvenirs, including history books, jewelry, cherry blossom items and the official White House Christmas ornament.

Where to stay

Washington, D.C. is home to many chain, independent and boutique hotels, and luckily, some of the best ones happen to be within walking distance of the White House. Here are some of my personal favorites — and their current room rates for October 2022.

Related: Best hotel credit cards

The Hay-Adams

This historic hotel located between the White House and Lafayette Park regularly shows up on lists of the best hotels in D.C., and for good reason. If you play your cards right, you can snag a room with White House and Washington Monument views.

Speaking of views, the property's top-floor Top of the Hay has French doors that open onto a wraparound balcony with panoramic White House and city skyline vistas. It has a full-service rooftop kitchen, making it a terrific space for meetings and special occasions.

Since The Hay-Adams is a boutique hotel, it does not participate in any major brand's loyalty program. As a result, you'll need to pay cash for your stay. Standard superior rooms start at $439 a night.

Hotel Washington

For a while, this 105-year-old hotel was known as the W Washington DC, but it reverted back to its original name in August 2021.

The chic property is known for the Vue, an open-air space regularly touted as one of the city's best rooftop bars. You'll also find a mix of rooms and suites, including some with jaw-dropping city views.

Cash rates for a standard queen room at this independently operated hotel start at $337 per night, but if you're looking for a show-stopping view, consider upgrading to one of the Monument suites. You'll enjoy sweet views of the Washington Monument for a minimum of $580 a night.

JW Marriott Washington, DC

One of Marriott's flagship hotels just happens to sit right on Pennsylvania Avenue, less than two blocks away from the White House and next door to the National Theatre.

Like other hotels on this list, the JW Marriott Washington, DC boasts rooms with incredible views of downtown and the city's popular monuments. You'll also find a moody bar and an American-inspired restaurant on site, should you crave a cocktail or bite to eat after sightseeing.

While standard rooms do not come with a Washington Monument view, for a slight price increase, you can reserve a king bedroom that overlooks the monument starting at $359 a night. If you have a stash of Marriott Bonvoy points, you can apply 50,000 to 60,000 points per night to cover a stay here.

Willard InterContinental Washington DC

The history of this hotel, which opened in 1818, almost goes back to the start of the republic. As such, it was the place to see and be seen for centuries.

When I moved to D.C. in 1978, the iconic Willard had been closed for 10 years and was just a decaying building on Pennsylvania Avenue. That same year, a team was chosen to redevelop the hotel into the stunning property it is today.

Ever since reopening in 1986, the IHG-affiliated hotel has drawn visitors with its ornate lobby and classically-styled rooms.

To book a king room with a premium view, expect to spend at least $517 per night or apply a minimum of 53,000 to 94,000 IHG Rewards points per night.

Kimpton Banneker Hotel

Located on a tree-lined avenue with a view down 16th Street Northwest to the White House, this Kimpton outpost is slightly off the beaten path ... in a good way.

The property's Lady Bird rooftop bar features a bird's-eye view of D.C., including an unobstructed look at the White House, and a centerpiece U-shaped bar. Rooms and suites feature modern, eye-catching designs with colorful local art and bold accent walls.

Because this property participates in the IHG Rewards program, you can use either cash or points to pay for a room here. A standard room with two queen beds starts at $315 or 53,000 points per night.

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The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500

The White   House Announces 2023 Fall Garden   Tours

The President and First Lady will continue the annual tradition of opening the White House gardens and South Grounds to members of the public for Fall Garden Tours. This season’s tour weekend is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET to 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15.  In the event that the federal government is shut down on these dates, the Fall Garden Tours will be postponed or canceled.  These tours are free and open to members of the public; however, a timed ticket is required for all attendees, regardless of age. The National Park Service (NPS) will distribute free, timed tickets outside the White House Visitor Center, located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, each day beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET. Timed tickets will be distributed, one ticket per person, on a first-come, first-served basis. Once attendees have received their tickets, the South Lawn entry point for everyone will be located on 15 th St NW between E Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW near the Boy Scout Memorial. The ADA entrance will be located at 15th Street NW and Alexander Hamilton Place NW.

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Tour Request

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This is to help the constituents that are hard of hearing or use a video phone alert us to that fact so we can use the proper technology when we need to call them. The default option “Voice” is a normal audible telephone.

Please select each ticket type you would like me to request for you: Tickets are free, and provided on a first-come first-served basis. If my office is unable to secure a congressional tour for the sites you selected, most locations are available for public tours. Please visit  house.gov  for information about public tour information for many of the sites in Washington D.C.  Admittance is determined by the individual tour site or agency, not by the Congressional office. Unless specified, tours are available Monday through Friday.

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Trump, seeking to show unity, to meet with GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill

It will be Trump’s first public visit to Capitol Hill since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and his first meetings with congressional Republicans since his felony conviction.

Former President Donald Trump will return to Washington on Thursday with the goal of uniting ideologically splintered House and Senate Republicans behind his policy and political agenda as they pivot to November and a possible GOP return to the White House in 2025.

Trump is expected to tell House and Senate Republicans in separate gatherings Thursday that they must align and remain “forward focused on how Republicans can work together to advance policies to save America,” according to a Trump campaign official who, like others in this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the private meetings, which will take place steps away from the Capitol.

These will be Trump’s first meetings with GOP lawmakers since a jury found him guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in his New York hush money case, making him the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime. Since the guilty verdict last month, Republicans have largely fallen in line behind Trump, as he and President Biden continue to be locked in a tight race.

It will also be Trump’s first public visit to Capitol Hill since the Jan. 6 , 2021, insurrection, in which a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol complex to stop the certification of Biden’s 2020 victory. Though Trump was not at the Capitol that day, his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, including his actions leading up to and during the attack, are at the heart of federal charges against him .

Trump’s actions and words influenced several Republican lawmakers to publicly break from the former president and endorse other candidates in this year’s GOP presidential primary. Although many Republicans had previously bemoaned Trump’s sometimes erratic behavior and norm bashing, the electoral fates of those who broke with him — like former representatives Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) — has not gone unnoticed by them.

Only two of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot remain in Congress — Reps. Dan Newhouse (Wash.) and David G. Valadao (Calif.). Neither has endorsed Trump this cycle, and only Newhouse has said he will attend Thursday’s meeting.

Of the four GOP senators still in office who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial after Jan. 6, only Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.) said he is likely to attend the meeting with Trump on Thursday. Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah) said he’s not attending. Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) said they had scheduling conflicts.

Some Republicans have also broken with Trump on policy. While the GOP embraces the broad ambition of passing tough immigration policy, curbing government spending and cutting taxes, the ideological divisions plaguing House Republicans in particular have made it difficult for them to pass substantive legislation.

Trump displayed his power over Senate Republicans from afar when, earlier this year, he helped kill bipartisan border security legislation that would have cracked down on asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border. Senate Republicans rejected the bill a second time last month.

Republicans also remain increasingly divided over whether to address abortion and other reproductive health issues on the federal level, though many agree with Trump that those matters should be left up to the states.

Trump’s visit comes as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is brainstorming what a House Republican majority’s first-100-days agenda would feature if voters keep the GOP at the helm. Trump is scheduled to meet with House Republicans at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Capitol Hill Club followed by a meeting with Senate Republicans at 12:30 p.m. at the headquarters of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

“We’re very excited to welcome President Trump back. … There’s high anticipation here and great excitement, and I feel good,” Johnson said, later adding that GOP lawmakers were eager to talk about post-election plans and “bounce around ideas” with Trump.

Asked whether he had spoken to Trump about committing to a peaceful transfer of power, Johnson said “of course he respects that, and we all do.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who will step down as the Senate’s top GOP leader at the end of the year, has suggested Senate Republicans first need to win the majority before establishing a legislative agenda.

McConnell plans to attend the meeting, which will mark the first time he and Trump have spoken since shortly after the 2020 election. McConnell broke with Trump over his refusal to accept the 2020 election results then and over the Jan. 6 riot, for which McConnell called Trump “practically and morally responsible.” Trump also later attacked McConnell’s wife — former Trump Cabinet secretary Elaine Chao — in racist terms . But McConnell has already endorsed Trump for reelection, saying that “it should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support.”

“I said three years ago, right after the Capitol was attacked, that I would support our nominee, regardless of who it was, including him,” McConnell said Wednesday. “I’ve said earlier this year I support him. He’s … earned the nomination by the voters all across the country.”

Trump has had conflicts with Senate Republicans in the past, although the majority of the conference is staunchly behind him. Trump is also considering some members of the conference to be his running mate, including Sens. J.D. Vance (Ohio) and Tim Scott (S.C.).

In a meeting invitation obtained by The Washington Post, Senate Republicans were told to expect “to hear directly from President Trump about his plans for the summer and to also share our ideas for a strategic governing agenda for 2025.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said he doubted the meeting would get too in the weeds on policy, focusing more on politics and messaging and rallying together ahead of the election.

“It’s the first time we’ve all been together with him since he was president, certainly the first time a large group of us have been with him since the convictions, and I would expect he’d receive a lot of unifying messages,” Cramer said. “I would expect it will be a very encouraging day for him.”

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) disparaged Republicans ahead of the meetings, saying the party’s only policy idea was to recycle “the same Trump tax cuts that proved to be a dud seven years ago.”

House Republican leaders briefed conference members during their weekly meeting Wednesday about Trump’s visit the next day, urging lawmakers to arrive early to the Capitol Hill Club. There were few specifics given about what might be discussed with Trump, but people familiar with the leadership’s thinking said a meeting with Trump has been in the works for months.

Several Republican lawmakers said Wednesday that they expected Trump to update them on what he saw as top concerns for the American people and to lay out a role for how lawmakers could support his reelection efforts over the next five months.

Some moderate House Republicans are still contemplating not attending their meeting with Trump, possibly stunting his attempt to unite the conference. One moderate House Republican, who represents a swing district and who spoke on the condition of anonymity to freely discuss the meeting, said they were bracing for chaos. But Rep. Nick LaLota, a moderate from New York state, dismissed the notion that Thursday’s meeting could turn tense.

“I think it’ll be a morale-building, team-building-focused meeting where I expect spirits to be high,” he said.

Trump is aware of GOP disunity, according to Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who said he speaks to Trump frequently. But Donalds, who is reported to be under consideration to be Trump’s running mate, encouraged his colleagues to appear — even those who may be hesitant because of their reelection prospects or previously endorsed another candidate in the presidential primary.

“I think that if you’re just going to go around just being a distraction for distraction’s sake, he has little patience for that — but quite frankly, I got little patience for that,” Donalds said of colleagues who often break with Trump. “So I think members should show up. They should go. It’ll be a packed house.”

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), who endorsed former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley during the primary, said he will continue pushing her to be Trump’s running mate. But he encouraged his colleagues to leave the past behind by not letting “personalities get in the way” and instead remain focused on “turning the country around, saving it.”

Asked whether he was excited for Trump’s visit, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Tex.) — who campaigned for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in the primary — said he “certainly plans on attending” Thursday’s meeting. Roy said he thinks Republicans must have a conversation “about what we want to accomplish in the spring of ’25, to talk about the agenda and the policies that we ought to address.”

Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), a former DeSantis supporter whose opponent Trump backed this cycle, said he would attend “to listen to what our presumptive nominee and the effective leader of our party has to say.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a top Trump ally in the House, downplayed the possibility of tension resulting Thursday from the presence of those who supported other primary candidates, like Good. “I don’t think President Trump even cares.”

Marianne LeVine contributed to this report.

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 secured their parties’ nominations for the presidency . Here’s how we ended up with a Trump-Biden rematch .

Presidential debates: Biden and Trump agreed to a June 27 debate on CNN and a Sept. 10 debate broadcast by ABC News.

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 .

Abortion and the election: Voters in about a dozen states could decide the fate of abortion rights with constitutional amendments on the ballot in a pivotal election year. Biden supports legal access to abortion , and he has encouraged Congress to pass a law that would codify abortion rights nationwide. After months of mixed signals about his position, Trump said the issue should be left to states . Here’s how Biden’s and Trump’s abortion stances have shifted over the years.