How to Meet the U.S. President

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Updated: November 25, 2019

Meeting a current or former president isn't the easiest thing to do. After all, they have millions of Americans to think about! Nonetheless, you can make an attempt to meet the president by contacting the White House directly, which will work in a slim number of cases. Also, noteworthy people, such as athletes, musicians, and national competition winners, often get to meet the president, so you could join a team or work on your academic prowess. Another option is to attend public events where you may have a chance to shake a president's hand.

Method 1 of 3:
Contacting the White House

  1. 1
    Come up with a compelling reason to meet the president. Most citizens don't have direct access to the president. However, sometimes the president will meet with you if you have a very specific reason for wanting to talk to them. For instance, you might have a big idea or maybe you've been personally affected by a policy they've implemented. Think long and hard about how you can make yourself stand out.
    • For instance, maybe you have a child who's in the military overseas so you want to talk to the president about veteran healthcare. Being the face of a bad policy, such as poor veteran healthcare, may help you get to see the president.[1]
    • Alternatively, maybe you're a kid who has a big idea you want to share!
  2. 2
    Use the form on the White House's contact page. On the White House's website, you'll find a contact form where you can put in your information, such as your name, address, and email. Then, you can write a short note asking to meet with the president.
    • You can find the contact form at
    • For instance, you might write, "Dear President Roberts, My name is Roberto Johnson, and I'm writing about your policy concerning pickles. By refusing to allow imported salt, the quality of our pickles has decreased dramatically. I'd love to discuss more about this policy in person and how it's affected my business. Would you be willing to meet with me? Sincerely, Roberto Johnson."
  3. 3
    Write a letter to the White House if you want to send a picture. It's best to type it on a computer to make it easier to read, but if you can't, you can also handwrite a letter. Include why you're writing in the letter, stating clearly that you'd like to meet the president. Also, include your name, phone number, address, and email to make sure they can contact you. Because you're writing a letter, you can include things you can't on the form, such as pictures.[2]
    • The address for the White House is:
      The White House
      1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
      Washington, DC 20500
  4. 4
    Call the White House to talk to a staff member. You won't be put directly through to the president! However, you can call and talk to a person in the White House. Be ready to talk about why you're calling and why you want to meet the president.[3]
    • You might say, "Hi, my name is Rachel Wright. I'm a mother of a young woman in the military, and she was recently sent to Iraq. She's my fourth child to be sent to war, and I'm calling because I think these wars are senseless. I'd like to meet with the president to discuss the ways these wars are affecting our young people."
    • The main number for comments and questions is 202-456-1111. You can also use 202-456-6213 for TTY/TTD.

Method 2 of 3:
Going to Public Events

  1. 1
    Attend a campaign event of current or future presidents. While your chances are low of actually meeting the president at a campaign event, you at least have a chance. Get in line early and check the event rules ahead of time to make sure you don't have banned items, such as weapons, large bags, or aerosols. When you get in, try to find a spot along the route will the president will walk in, and you may get to shake their hand.[4]
    • Be ready for when the president comes in and hold your hand out.
  2. 2
    Meet former presidents at book signings. Many presidents write books about their time in office and then they have book signings. While you won't have long with the president at a book signing, you'll at least get to say hello to them. Plus, you'll get a signed book in the process![5]
    • You can usually find out about these events on their personal websites. You can also try following their social media accounts.
    • Try to get to these events early, as they sometimes cut the line off at a certain point.
  3. 3
    See former presidents giving speeches. After leaving office, many former presidents travel the country giving speeches. While these events often cost money, it can be a way to see the president in person. Check the president's personal website for upcoming events. Get to the event early and put yourself along the line where the president is likely to enter to increase your chances of meeting them.[6]
    • Some events are even small enough that everyone there gets to meet the president. However, the tickets typically cost more money for these types of events.
  4. 4
    Invite a current or former president to speak at your event. If you are in charge of organizing a large event requiring a speaker, you may be able to get a president to attend. While you're more likely to get a former president, sitting presidents also sometimes give speeches at smaller events, too. To invite a former or current president, find the form on their personal websites; most have a place where you can invite them to speak.[7]
    • Keep in mind, this is a long shot, but you never know. Most presidents will only speak for free at charity events; otherwise, they will likely charge a speaker's fee.

Method 3 of 3:
Becoming Noteworthy

  1. 1
    Win an award or competition. If you're young, you might be able to visit the president if you win a big competition. For instance, the winners of the national spelling bee sometimes get to meet the president. If you win a national essay contest, you might also get to meet the president. Excel at something, and you're more likely to see them.
    • Join clubs and competing scholastic teams at your school to get started!
  2. 2
    Become a local official. Mayors, governors, and other local officials often have a much higher chance of meeting the president than other members of the community. Try running for a local office. Remember to start small and work your way up! You don't want to run for governor without any previous experience.[8]
    • While this doesn't guarantee you'll meet the president, they often like to see local officials when visiting cities and states.
  3. 3
    Play on a high-level winning sports team. In some cases, the president will invite a famous team to the White House if they've done well that year. For instance, sometimes the winning team of the national championship game for college football is asked to the White House. Try playing basketball, football, soccer, or volleyball, for instance.[9]
    • Other big teams might include high school national championship teams or world champion professional teams.
    • It helps if you play a sport the current president is especially fond of![10]
  4. 4
    Get on the big screen or become a famous musician. Famous people generally have an easier time getting to see the president. That's because most presidents have favorite actors and singers they'd love to see in person, too! If you're a famous actor or musician, they may be just as starstruck with you as you are with them.[11]
    • If you are famous, have your agent reach out to the president's staff. Maybe you could perform at an event.
  5. 5
    Befriend a family member of the president. While getting close to a family member of the president won't be easy, you'll likely have more direct access to one of them than the president. For instance, if you happen to go to the same college as one of the president's kids, you might try joining a club they're in.
    • Most of the time, the president's kids also have security details, so it may not be too easy to befriend them if you don't already know them.
    • Plus, there's a thin line between trying to befriend someone and stalking them. Don't stake out the person's dorm, for instance. If they find out you're just making friends to meet the president, they probably won't appreciate it much.
  6. 6
    Know someone on the president's staff. The president's personal staff has direct access to them most of the time. If you know one of these people or can meet them, you're more likely to gain access to the president. Try going to events they might attend, for instance, or hitting up bars that DC officials are known to frequent.[12]
    • Once again, make sure you're not trying to stalk them. Meeting them at the bar is one thing; trying to find their home is another thing entirely.
    • Usually, you can find the names of the president's staff online.
  7. 7
    Give a generous donation to a sitting president's campaign. A traditional way to see a president is to give to their campaigns. It might sound crass, but donating a large sum will usually gain you at least a few minutes with the president.[13]
    • Typically, it has to be a very large sum, out of the realm of most people's budgets.

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        About This Article

        Co-Authored By:
        wikiHow Staff Editor
        3 votes - 67%
        Co-authors: 2
        Updated: November 25, 2019
        Views: 1,900

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