Donald Trump will keep an eye on Hurricane Harvey from the official presidential retreat at Camp David.
The president and first lady departed for Thurmont, Maryland, a location that a White House official stressed is just 45 minutes away from Washington.
‘It’s not a trip,’ Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert told reporters during a televised briefing that preceded Trump’s trip.
Donald Trump will keep an eye on Hurricane Harvey from the official presidential retreat at Camp David
The president and first lady departed for Thurmont, Maryland, a location that a White House official stressed is just 45 minutes away from Washington
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.
Vice President Mike Pence is staying behind to keep tabs on the situation.
He got a briefing this afternoon, according a tweet sent from his account as Trump was arriving at Camp David.
‘Briefed by @TomBossert45 on the latest #HurricaneHarvey developments. @POTUS’ top priority is the safety of the public & first responders,’ he said alongside a photo of himself and Bossert.
Earlier in the afternoon Pence said that the storm ‘continues to strengthen.’
‘Our prayers for safety are with those in the path of the storm,’ he said.
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,’ Trump said.
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.’
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,’ it said. ‘Those who ignore evacuation orders could be putting both themselves and first responders in danger.’