Trump surprises group of kids on the first day of White House tours since inauguration 
 
 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share Tours of the White House have resumed and President Donald Trump surprised one of the first groups by greeting them in person — right next to a large portrait of Hillary Clinton. Time 
 
 On the first day 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was open to the public since Donald Trump took office, the president surprised tourists on a White House tour. 
 
 Per Tuesday pool reports, a group of nearly 100 people were gathered off the East Room when the president appeared. The tour group, many of whom were 5th grade students from Briarwood Chistian School in Birmingham, Ala., cheered. Trump then gestured for someone to come forward, resulting in a hug with 10-year-old Jack Cornish. 
 
 President Donald J. Trump greets Jack Cornish, 10, of Birmingham, Alabama, while Cornish is on a public group tour of the White House. (Photo: Erik S. Lesser, epa) 
 
 "Work hard, everybody, work hard," Trump told the group. 
 
 The scene happened to play out right next to the official portrait of former first lady Hillary Clinton. 
 
 Just In: Moments ago President #Trump greeted White House guests as he reopens the White House to public tours. pic.twitter.com/VAkrslRwqe — FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) March 7, 2017 
 
 Watch: President Trump surprises White House visitors https://t.co/iJk2cciEHbpic.twitter.com/VY1M1y5ZwQ — Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 7, 2017 
 
 The White House Visitors Office had been closed since inauguration. 
 
 "I am excited to reopen the White House to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year," first lady Melania Trump said in a statement. "The White House is a remarkable and historic site and we are excited to share its beauty and history. I am committed to the restoration and preservation of our Nation's most recognizable landmark." 
 
 The public tours, which take place Tuesday through Saturday, must be requested through members of Congress and requests can be made up to three months in advance. 
 
 Contributing: David Jackson 
 
 Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2mAVlIj ||||| First Lady Melania Trump announced Tuesday the reopening of the White House public tours. The tours will officially resume on Tuesday, March 7. 
 
 "I am excited to reopen the White House to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year. The White House is a remarkable and historic site and we are excited to share its beauty and history. I am committed to the restoration and preservation of our Nation's most recognizable landmark,” Melania Trump said in a statement. 
 
 
 
 The tours had been temporarily suspended, which is typical when there's a new president. But the length of the suspension apparently had begun to cause angst. 
 
 According to a statement released by the White House, tours must be submitted through a member of Congress. 
 
 The self-guided tours are available from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (excluding Federal holidays unless otherwise noted). 
 
 The White House encourages those interested to submit their request as early as possible, as a limited number of spaces are available. 
 
 All White House tours are free of charge. 
 
 For more information visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/participate/tours-and-events.
– Following a longer-than-usual delay, the White House will be back open for tours next month. First lady Melania Trump announced Tuesday that the tours will resume on March 7, per ABC 7. White House tours are typically halted when a new president takes office, but a seven-week interruption is out of the ordinary, reports the Washington Post. In a letter sent to the White House on Monday, about two dozen members of Congress sounded a little agitated that they haven't been able to arrange tours for constituents. "Previous administrations have been quick to reopen the White House doors to the public, even doing so the day after the Inauguration," they wrote. The message was apparently received. “I am excited to reopen the White House to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year,” said a statement from the first lady, who has remained in New York while son Barron finishes the school year. “The White House is a remarkable and historic site and we are excited to share its beauty and history.” The news should please GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley, who sent out a snarky tweet about the delay.