President Donald Trump mysteriously delayed deplaning from Air Force One for forty-five minutes upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews just outside of Washington, D.C. Sunday night from a weekend at Trump’s golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey. Reporters were left in the dark as the door to Air Force One remained closed even though the mobile staircase had been rolled up to the plane for Trump to walk down.
Air Force One landed at 8:40 P.M. EDT. Trump left the plane at 9:25.
Senior Trump aide and son-in-law Jared Kushner left Air Force One and returned two times before Trump left. Kushner told the media that the President was “just working on something.” A White House official later said on background Trump was holding a meeting but did not explain further.
It was reported that Deputy National Security Advisor KT McFarland was seen on Marine One, the helicopter used to shuttle the President between the White House and JB Andrews.
When Trump appeared, he looked sober and weary in wire service photos taken as he left Air Force One and then minutes later Marine One at the White House.
BACK TO THE GRIND: President Trump arrives at The White House Sunday night. pic.twitter.com/Zy1pQBZbpR
— The TRUMP PAGE 🇺🇸 (@MichaelDeLauzon) May 8, 2017
President Trump remains on board Air Force One, a half hour after they landed at Joint Base Andrews. Front door remains closed.
— Steve Brusk (@stevebruskNews) May 8, 2017
Air Force One landed. Yet Trump didn’t leave the plane for 45 minutes. It was a bit strange – I’m not sure whom he was meeting with or why. pic.twitter.com/qv8ssMt9j6
— Tara McKelvey (@Tara_Mckelvey) May 8, 2017
Trump remains on Air Force One almost 40 minutes after landing, per pool. Kushner got off plane, came back on, left again and now back on.
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) May 8, 2017
Kushner came over to the press pool, and Trump is finally off plane. "Everything is good. He was just working on something," he said. Hmm… https://t.co/AufFeBCGKJ
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) May 8, 2017
White House asks press pool to distribute the following statement on plane delay: "On background, the President was finishing a meeting."
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) May 8, 2017
Reports of KT McFarland's banishment to Singapore have been greatly…premature at best. Pool reports have her on Marine One with POTUS.
— Annie Karni (@anniekarni) May 8, 2017
Though Air Force One landed at @JBA_NAFW at 840pm, Pres Trump didn't disembark until 925pm. No explanation given. pic.twitter.com/oWKWPZJMYL
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 8, 2017
Asked why @POTUS on board so long, son-in-law & advisor Jared Kushner told press pool he was "working on something," but didn't elaborate.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 8, 2017
WH official later explained Pres Trump was finishing up a meeting to explain his 45-min stay on Air Force One after landing. pic.twitter.com/pCAvY7XB7g
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 8, 2017
Pres Trump lost no time stepping off Marine One on return to the WH, but didn't respond when asked why the delay on Air Force One. pic.twitter.com/H02zXERXfI
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 8, 2017
Video of Trump’s return to the White House shows him walking alone across the South Lawn and flashing a thumb up to the media with his right hand.
Donald Trump returns to White House on Marine One pic.twitter.com/sDkDVtRZZJ
— Demetri (@Dimi) May 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/Scavino45/status/861404409024180225
Senior White House aide Dan Scavino, Jr., posted video from inside Marine One as Trump walked solo across the South Lawn.