"The Egyptian government has an important opportunity to be responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people, and pursue political, economic and social reforms that can improve their lives and help Egypt prosper," it said in a statement.
"The United States is committed to working with Egypt and the Egyptian people to advance these goals," it added.
The unprecedented protests against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year reign were inspired by similar unrest in Tunisia which forced that country's veteran strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee earlier this month.
The unusually strong White House statement was issued hours after President Barack Obama said in his annual State of the Union address that in Tunisia "the will of the people proved more powerful than the writ of a dictator."
He also insisted that "the United States of America stands with the people of Tunisia, and supports the democratic aspirations of all people."