President Donald Trump happily held hands with his grandchildren before heading to Camp David with his family on Friday as Hurricane Harvey barreled toward Texas.
The president was joined by his wife, first lady Melania, his 11-year-old son, Barron, his eldest daughter, Ivanka, her husband, Jared Kushner, and their three children, Arabella, Joseph and Theodore, ahead of their departure.
As the group made their way across the White House South Lawn to board Marine One on Friday, Trump was photographed holding hands with six-year-old Arabella and three-year-old Joseph, but it was the little girl who managed to get some extra time with the president.
President Trump held hands with his granddaughter Arabella as he and his family prepared to board Marine One for a trip to Camp David
Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump held her one-year-old son, Theodore, on her hip as she and her husband, Jared Kushner, were photographed walking across the White House’s South Lawn to join her father on Friday afternoon
Helping hand: President Trump’s youngest child Barron, 11, held onto his nephew Joseph’s hand as they made their way onto Marine One to head to Camp David
Trump was holding both Arabella and Joseph’s hands as he, Melania, and Barron stepped out of the Oval Office, but he and his granddaughter eventually took off by themselves ahead of the group.
While Trump was with Arabella and waving with his free hand, Barron walked alongside his nephew, who is turning four in October.
Melania looked back to make sure they were okay, but Barron proved to be a doting uncle as he watched little Joseph.
Meanwhile, Ivanka and Jared, both senior advisers to the president, walked behind them with their youngest child, Theodore.
The first daughter donned a pale blue long sleeve top, which she tucked into white and green wide-leg trousers.
Wave! The whole family put on a show of solidarity as they smiled for the cameras
When he first left the Oval Office, Trump was holding hands with both six-year-old Arabella and his three-year-old grandson Joseph while his wife Melania and their 11-year-old son, Barron, walked alongside them
At one point, Melania walked ahead of the group while Barron reached for his nephew’s hand
While Trump walked ahead with Arabella, Melania checked on Barron and Joseph, who were straggling behind
Ivanka had her hair pulled up in a messy top knot, and she donned shades while she held little Theodore on hip.
The mother-of-three used her spare hand to lock arms with her husband, who was carrying a computer bag and plenty of files.
Trumps travels came right as Hurricane Harvey strengthened to a Category 3 storm as it neared Texas.
It’s Trump’s third time visiting the naval support facility that functions as a private retreat for sitting presidents
However, Camp David, the country retreat located near Thurmont, Maryland, is just 45 minutes away from Washington, D.C., and Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert told reporters during a televised briefing that ‘it’s not a trip’.
Trump and Arabella eventually blew past the rest of the group as they made their way to the helicopter
Ivanka was all smiles as she walked with her hand in the crook of her husband’s arm
Jared, 36, held Ivanka’s back with one hand as he escorted her to the helicopter headed to Camp David
Bossert insisted that Trump can monitor the storm that will soon bear down on Texas from Camp David just as well as he could from the White House.
Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence is staying behind to keep tabs on the situation, tweeting that he was already briefed on the latest hurricane developments by Bossert.
As Trump was leaving, he sent out a tweet urging people in the storm’s path to follow instructions.
‘I encourage everyone in the path of #HurricaneHarvey to heed the advice & orders of their local and state officials,’ he wrote.
The White House sent out a picture of him conferring with Bossert and Chief of Staff John Kelly in the Oval Office around the same time.
A statement that accompanied the picture said Trump ‘continues to closely monitor Hurricane Harvey and the preparedness and response efforts of State, local, and Federal officials.’
Arabella looked unimpressed as her grandfather raised his fist to the onlookers watching his departure
Close: Doting Donald made sure to keep a firm hand on his granddaughter at all times
Melania watched as Joseph made his way up the steps of Marine One while her husband gave one last wave
Before leaving the White House, it said, Trump received a briefing from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke, Bossert and Kelly.
He also spoke to Governors Greg Abbott of Texas and John Bel Edwards of Louisiana ‘and committed to providing assistance as appropriate.’
‘This storm will likely be very destructive for several days. The President encourages people in the path of this dangerous storm to heed the advice and orders of their local and State officials,’ the statement said. ‘Those who ignore evacuation orders could be putting both themselves and first responders in danger.’
Melania and Ivanka also tweeted message of support for those who in the path of the hurrican, with the first lady writing: ‘For those living near the path of #HurricaneHarvey stay safe! Thoughts & prayers of an entire country are with you.’
‘For those in #HurricaneHarvey’s path, we are praying for you. Please check out http://hurricanes.gov for preparedness tips. Stay safe!’ Ivanka added.