Because of bad weather over Camp David, in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland, the chopper landed at the municipal airport in Frederick, Md., about 42 miles northwest of Washington, better than half way to Camp David. The president and his daughter stepped off Marine One, and boarded a motorcade for the remaining 28 miles to Camp David.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest would tell reporters later that "a bad weather call" had been made about 20 minutes before the president and his daughter took off from the South Lawn of the White House.
It had been decided that Marine One could safely fly the president to Frederick, and the Secret Service had motorcade vehicles ready there to drive him the rest of the way.
Interestingly, Earnest said Mr. Obama had not been informed of the plan until he was aboard Marine One.
They knew 20 minutes ahead of time, but they didn't tell POTUS. And how bad was the weather in Emmitsburg? |