Let’s be honest: who wouldn’t want to visit the White House? The building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has been home to our nation’s presidents over the years, and the site where a number of important meetings have been held, photographs taken, and decisions have been made that left an indelible mark on history. So, bearing all of this in mind, it’s no wonder that even celebrities want to visit the White House — and in some cases, have an audience with the President of the United States!
But not everyone gets the chance. Recently, Nicki Minaj claimed that she’d received an invite from the White House to discuss COVID-19 and any questions she had related to the efficacy of the vaccine after a series of alarming tweets earlier this week. A White House official, however, set the record straight, saying that Minaj was offered a phone call to speak with an expert physician, per Deadline. Minaj previously tested positive for COVID-19 and recently missed the Met Gala due to its vaccine mandate.
While Minaj’s invite status is still unclear, many other celebrities have accepted presidential offers in the past. Some meetings have been photographed for the history books, dating back to 1940! That’s right. Prior to the United States’ involvement in World War II, legendary actress Katharine Hepburn didn’t just meet President Franklin Delano Roosevelt — she had lunch with him!
A photograph of the pair was snapped at President Roosevelt’s Hyde Park home — which, ok, we know it’s not the White House, but we’re going to let this one count! The get-together was so casual, FDR’s son served the pair some food.
But there are plenty more celebrity visits to the White House. We’ve rounded up some of the most memorable moments where politics, Hollywood, sports, and even Broadway collided at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Take a look at the photos in this slideshow for more!
A version of this article was originally published in September 2021.
Katharine Hepburn
While it might not have been an official White House visit, venerated actress Katharine Hepburn still got the White House treatment while visiting President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his son Elliott Roosevelt at home in Hyde Park in 1940.
Elvis Presley
Remeber this iconic photo op? President Richard Nixon shook hands with Elvis Presley at the White House on Dec. 21 1970. The singer was there to seek out an appointment as a Federal Agent at Large to fight drugs and Communism.
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson was honored by President Ronald Raegan at the White House in 1984. The “Beat It” singer earned the Presidential Public Safety Commendation. Jackson’s iconic song was used for an anti-drunk driving campaign.
Whitney Houston
President George H. W. Bush shared a laugh with Whitney Houston in the Oval Office of the White House in this 1990 photo. Houston was in Washington to participate in the Youth Leadership Forum.
George Clooney
George Clooney spoke to reporters after meeting with President Barack Obama about his recent trip to Sudan at the White House 2010. Honestly, this photo made it look more like Representative or Congressman Clooney than anything!
Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney
After their incredible display of athleticism, the 2012 Women’s Gymnastics team got to meet President Barack Obama! Members photographed here include Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and Gabby Douglas.
Hilary Swank
Hilary Swank had a front row seat in the East Room of the White House in Washington in 2015 for the second-annual White House Student Film Festival.
The Cast of ‘Hamilton’
Talk about a Broadway preview! President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, center front, saw the very beginnings of what would become a total sensation. Leslie Odom Jr., Anthony Ramos, Daveed Diggs, Okieriete Onaodowan, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Christopher Jackson, and Phillipa Soo, finish performing the song “Alexander Hamilton” from the Broadway play Hamilton in the East Room of the White House in 2016.
Kanye West
During President Donald Trump‘s one term in office, worlds collided when Kanye West and President Trump met during a meeting in the Oval office of the White House in 2018. Cameras were everywhere for this particular meeting.
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian was on a mission when she attended arrives an event on second chance hiring and criminal justice reform with President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House in 2019. This scene was definitely in contrast to the meeting her husband had in 2018.
Olivia Rodrigo
Teen pop star Olivia Rodrigo spoke at the beginning of the daily briefing at the White House in Washington in July 2021. The “Drivers License” singer was at the White House to film a vaccination video and got to meet both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Angelina Jolie
Actress and activist Angelina Jolie spoke with reporters in the Briefing Room before a meeting with the Justice Department to discuss reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act at the White House on September 15, 2021.
Jordyn Woods
Jordyn Woods is one of the latest celebs to head to the White House. The model went to the White House on the two-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death. Woods met Vice President Kamala Harris, Floyd’s daughter and sisters, and more people to mark a special occasion.
“Today was an honor being able to witness a step in the right direction towards police reform in our country. As well as the 2 year remembrance of George Floyd,” Woods wrote in the caption to her carousel post on Instagram, which you can see HERE.
BTS
Members of the K-pop group BTS — V, Jungkook, Jimin, RM, Jin, J-Hope, and Suga — attended the White House press briefing on May 31, 2022. The group met with Vice President Harris and discussed how they’ve used their platform to make a difference.
“We just want to give back all the love that we got, and use our voice like you told us. That’s all we want. So today is a really, really historical and big day for us,” RM said on behalf of the group, per Billboard. “We feel happy to make a positive impact and we feel a great responsibility at the same time.”
Matthew McConaughey
On June 7, 2022, Matthew McConaughey spoke during the White House press briefing, where he advocated for gun reform following the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX, that claimed the lives of 21 people, including 19 children.
“We got to get some real courage and honor our mortal obligations instead of our party affiliations and enough with the counterpunching,” McConaughey said in part. “We can’t truly be leaders if we’re only live in for reelection.”
“We are asking you; I’m asking you, will you please ask yourselves, can both sides rise above? Can both sides see beyond the political problem at hand and admit that we have a life preservation problem on our hands?”
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