White House: Trump will watch eclipse with first lady

President Trump will watch Monday’s solar eclipse with first lady Melania Trump from the Truman Balcony at the White House, an administration official said. 

Observers in Washington, D.C., will see a partial eclipse, which is expected to hit its peak at 2:42 p.m.

The path of the total eclipse will stretch from Lincoln Beach, Ore. to Charleston, S.C.

{mosads}It will be the first solar eclipse in 99 years to cross from coast to coast. 

The next total solar eclipse is expected in 2024, according to NASA.

Vice President Mike Pence will host a viewing event on Monday at the Naval Observatory for students, his office said.

Pence and officials from the observatory and NASA are expected to speak to the children.

Several Trump administration agencies have turned their attention to the eclipse in recent days.

NASA publicly warned consumers about counterfeit eclipse glasses, saying that safety glasses, which are recommended, should only be purchased from vendors approved of by the American Astronomical Society. 

The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) also said motorists should avoid traveling during the event, or at least avoid driving in the direct path of totality. 

The agency is urging drivers not to take pictures of the eclipse while driving and to be vigilant when traveling through construction zones.  

–This report was updated at 2:18 p.m.