The White House is moving tours of its gardens to Sunday from Saturday because of protests planned in Washington on Saturday.
“This decision has been made out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of all within proximity to public demonstrations planned near the White House on Saturday, April 5, 2025,” first lady Melania Trump’s office said.
The “Hands Off” protests are slated to include at least 1,100 events across all 50 states and the District, including a rally at the Washington Monument from noon to 3:30 p.m. listed as “highest priority” on the Hands Off website.
The rallies and other events are to protest President Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency adviser Elon Musk, who has been slashing the federal government.
“This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history. Trump, Musk and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy and our basic rights … They want to strip America for parts … They’re handing over our tax dollars, our public services, and our democracy to the ultra-rich,” the protest website reads.
The protests are backed by groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, AFL-CIO labor federation, Democratic Socialists of America, Human Rights Campaign, League of Women Voters, National Education Association, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Service Employees International Union.
The White House tour tickets will be honored on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., regardless of the original time on a visitor’s ticket. Sunday visitors were asked to adhere to their originally scheduled times for the Spring Garden Tour, which visits the South Lawn, White House Kitchen Gardens, Rose Garden and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden.
