Trump makes surprise appearance to shocked White House tourists

Donald Trump had one thing to say about wife Melania when he dropped in to greet stunned visitors on a tour of the White House. See the video.

US President Donald Trump has dropped by the first White House tour of the 47th presidency, praising First Lady Melania Trump’s work in organising the coveted excursions.

“I want to thank you very much for coming. The tour is so great,” Mr Trump told visitors packed into an underground hallway.

“There’s nothing like the White House, no matter where you go” he said.

“The First Lady worked very hard in making it perfect and I think you’re going to really love it.”

Mr Trump, 78, said he had “heard” the tour was happening and wanted to “stop by and say hello.”

“You’re very smart-looking people, I must say. Very smart. Maybe someday you’ll be here as the president,” he went on, getting laughs from the group.

Mr Trump closed by telling staffers to give the group a “special tour” to which the visitors responded with chants of “USA! USA!”

President Trump Surprises First White House Tour, CROWD ERUPTS IN ‘USA’ CHANTS 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/r6fY95G6aO

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 25, 2025

The self-guided tours were put on hiatus during the transition period ahead of Mr Trump’s swearing-in on January 20.

Melania Trump had announced on February 12 that the tours would resume.

“The President and I are excited to reopen the White House to those interested in the extraordinary story of this iconic and beautiful landmark,” Melania Trump, 54, said in a statement at the time.

“There is much to learn about the American Presidency, the First Families who have lived here, and our Nation’s rich history from a first-hand experience at the White House,” the First Lady added. “This opportunity is unique among nations around the globe — a tradition we are honoured to continue for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year.”

Members of the public can request a White House tour through their congressional representative or senator up to three months in advance.

Foreign nationals can book their tour through their country’s embassy in Washington, DC.

The free tour includes access to the Vermeil Room, the Library, the China Room, the Blue Room, Red Room, Green Room, the State Dining Room and a peek at the White House Kennedy Garden, according to officials.

US First Lady Melania Trump attends the National Governors Association Evening Dinner and Reception. Picture: AFP

It comes as Melania Trump, after taking a month-long break from making any public appearances with her husband, President Trump, is leading “her own life” amid his second term in the White House, according to People magazine.

“She will never be a traditional first lady. That isn’t who she is,” a Miami political source told the outlet Tuesday, adding that she has “her own ideas on what she wants to do.”

In fact, Melania is currently working on “her own projects,” such as her Brett Ratner-directed documentary with Amazon Prime.

“Melania has been busy shooting her documentary and that has taken place in several locations, including the White House,” the source told the outlet.

A social source said it should be no surprise that Melania has been absent from several of Donald’s political appearances as she splits her time between Washington DC, New York City and the couple’s home at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.

The First Lady is absent from her husband’s side far more often than she is next to it. Picture: AFP.

“(Donald and Melania) both live at Mar-a-Lago and have quarters in the White House,” the social source said. “But she leads her own life and joins him when appropriate in either place.”

The first lady usually “keeps to herself” when she’s in Palm Beach, though she attends dinner with Donald “on occasion,” the social source shared.

Melania, 54, was noticeably absent from her husband’s events for nearly a month.

She was last seen visiting North Carolina flood victims with the president in January and didn’t resurface until she attended the Governors Ball this past weekend. Melania even skipped out on attending the Super Bowl 2025 with Donald, 78, earlier this month.

However she was front and centre on Inauguration Day – despite being elsewhere for most of the campaign. Picture: AFP.

Melania has seemingly been distancing herself from Donald since he was inaugurated Jan. 20.

The former model sent a clear message when she rolled up to Donald’s swearing-in ceremony wearing a navy blue coat and a boater hat that concealed her eyes.

“She doesn’t care. She’s unreadable, inscrutable — and she likes it that way,” fashion journalist and historian Nancy MacDonell told Page Six at the time. “The look said ‘I’m flawless and in control,’ and it showed that she’s going to do things her way this time — she won’t look back.”

Melania even admitted to having differing political opinions from Donald in an interview with Fox News last month.

“I don’t always agree [with] what my husband is saying or doing, and that’s OK,” she said. “I give him my advice, and sometimes he listens, sometimes he doesn’t.”

Melania’s hat stole the show on Inauguration Day. AFP.

She also believes that the public underestimates her power and she isn’t just Donald’s arm candy.

“Maybe they didn’t understand me the way maybe they do now, and I didn’t have much support. Maybe some people, they see me as just the wife of the president,” she said. “But I’m standing on my own two feet, independent. I have my own thoughts.”

Still, Melania reportedly remains committed to her marriage and is “really good at balancing her husband,” her official photographer, Régine Mahaux, told Hello! Magazine earlier this month.

The couple tied the knot in 2005 and share 18-year-old son Barron.

This article originally appeared in The New York Post.

Originally published as Trump makes surprise appearance to shocked White House tourists