Brit Reacts to How the US President Travels 

People walking around the Presidential Limousine is during the Presidential Inauguration.

I got ride in the motorcade while being in the White House press pool….it is truly one of the most impressive things I’ve done as a photographer

I’ve seen the motorcade. There is also a helicopter flying above .

I was a firefighter in the USAF and I got to play around on the President's limo and the Secret Service cars. It was 2005 and George W. Bush flew into Shreveport to give a speech to a local college. I was stationed at Barksdale AFB and they parked the Secret Service SUV's and the President's limos inside our station. Gave us a little tour of it all. That's probably my favorite thing I got to do during my service.

Even Kim Jong Un couldn't hide his amazement when he saw it.

Yes, I’ve witnessed the presidential motorcade on a couple occasions…. It truly is an impressive sight to see. Also, I’m the administrator at my church. And we had the secret service have to come to our church for a presidential cabinet member to attend a service… the logistics involved are WILD!!!

The fuel travels on separate planes. They will not allow the plane to be filled by any foreign fuel.

I can confirm the motorcade jams all radio and phone signals. Out of nowhere roads get closed, and everyone has to just stop there, in silence. But it's over really fast. It truly is the well oiled machine they claim in the video.

I've seen the pres. motorcade. They block freeway traffic and drive bumper to bumper fast AF!!! The Beast is a badass piece of technology!

The cost per flight is the estimated cost of the personnel along with all the defense and set up.

One other thing he did not say? There's a military officer that goes with the President that carries a briefcase they call the football. Which has all the nuclear launch codes? He travels with the President 24/7 when he leaves the white house.

My step uncle used to work for the secret service under President Nixon and President Ford. They would fly out a day or two ahead of time and scope the area where the president will be. They would take arial snapshots of the rooftops and snapshots from the rooftops at all angles to help position the snipers. He loved it. What he didn’t like was being the guard for Ford’s daughter when she was out with friends or on dates. It was awkward he said. He did say she was really nice and polite.

Well being a 4th generation Washington, D.C. native, yeah I’ve seen that motorcade … and it’s a frigging mess through anywhere near DC. There are audible sighs of relief when you see the Marine One twins lifting off from the White House lawn….that means the roads aren’t constipated … as much as driving POTUS around.

They failed to mention the hidden air support that can be on scene in minutes. You’d have so many raptors up your ass it might actually look like a normal radar cross section 😂

No one was allowed on the highway when he came through for a campaign night.

Most of those 50 vehicles are the local law enforcement clearing the roads and securing intersections. The actual government vehicles are far less, approximately 10 vehicles fly in the C17.

People don’t realize there’s an air force secret service that also works on these details.

Back in the late 80’s, my wife & I waited 3 hrs in cloudy, windy 5° temps to see the Vice President, George Bush, Sr. speak on a little outdoor stage outside a local grocery store about 40 miles west of Chicago. He came in a Cadillac limousine with lots of Secret Service people. Was so cold he only spoke for 5 minutes but it was kinda cool to see the 2nd most powerful man in the world in our little village.

I've seen the presidential motorcade in New York City, in Washington DC, as well as in Los Angeles and London, UK. It's truly impressive, and yes, it's always at least 50 vehicles long. The video never mentioned that there is also a helicopter that also flies above the motorcade, as well as the presidential nuclear football.

I'm a retired police officer and George W. Bush came to town one day. The city was sealed up pretty tight. I was assigned to close off a bridge that crossed over the motorcade route. The motorcade itself was pretty impressive.

3:39 they usually use C-17s to carry the vehicles. Incredible aircraft! That and the C-5 will blow your mind!

Yes, I've seen President Ford's motorcade. And, yes,the secret service sometimes walks around the car. Such as when the President is in a parade. The bumpers of the limo fold down creating a platform for secret service agents to stand on and ride along.

For every trip, there's an "Advanced Detail" team that goes days or weeks prior to the president's travel. The length of their detail depends on the complexity and threat factors of the destination. They map out a security plan, and look for potential threats, and alternate routes at every turn, in case there's a road obstruction. This often involves welding manholes shut, removing objects like planters from the sidewalks, and scouting for potential sniper posts, so they can plan where to focus surveillance. They also get NSA and FBI information on people who have threatened the president online or via letter in the past, and sometimes even pay them a visit, as a show of force to "not mess with us". Driving "The Beast" is a coveted position that very few agents ever get to do, and the position often lasts only a few weeks or months. The driver has to go to a special training course and learn all kinds of impressive maneuvers like the J turn. This is useful in the event the motorcade gets stopped completely. The driver would reverse at full speed and do a sudden 180 deg turn and start driving forwards in the opposite direction. They practice it so much, that it's almost unreal to see performed. It's a very stressful job, but is a source of great pride for the few agents that get to do it.

Ive seen the motorcade twice. The first time was when Gerald Ford went to Yellowstone to campaign prior to the presidential election in 1976. The second time was when George W Bush was campaigning for re-election in Minneapolis in 2004. Fun fact - I've shaken the hand as a teenager of Gerald Ford.

yes I have. I was also in Downtown Dallas at the "Grassy Knol" when JFK got shot. A lot about Motorcade has changed since that day

The guards and people around the cars was and is for the Inauguration Day, I watched Trump’s live on the news, first time I’ve ever watched the event, it was so cool.

My friend is patent attorney in Washington DC and lived around the corner from Biden when he was Vice President. He HATED dealing with the motorcade every morning because they would close off the streets.

Bill Clinton stopped at McDonald's a couple of times and it became a SNL sketch lol

The American highways (adjacent roads) are closed off from regular traffic by State Troopers aprox. 15 minutes before and after the President's motorcade travels from the airport to his location. You couldn't really be close enough to see it (and all the vehicles) pass by. Overhead air traffic is prevented from flying over the route during those times too. Then the highways re-open after he passes through.

I’ve seen it when I lived in DC. It had a helicopter as well. Amazing!

I was fortunate to be able to visit Camp David before 9/11. My son was a Marine stationed there. We got to tour the President's cabin and go aboard Marine One (the President's helicopter.) Really cool and exciting. I never felt so safe in my life guarded by all those Marines! To get there, you start driving up this mountain and all of a sudden, there's a vehicle full of Marines asking who you are and what are you doing here! We had to park our cars and ride a bus to Camp David (the Presidential Retreat)! It was really an experience! I have pictures of my son with 2 different Presidents! Proud Mama!

I'm just flabbergasted that you don't think about all the people who are paid salaries and wages during these trips that are included in that price tag, not to mention the maintenance of each vehicle. And it's not just those who are actually on the trips but, also those who stay behind and "manage the fort", as it were. Also, I wouldn't pay a penny for "diamond gas" as it wouldn't work, too well (or, at all) to make the vehicles move. lol When he said the word dementia and showed Biden falling UP the stairs of Air Force One, I about fell out of my chair laughing...it's SO true!🤣🤣🤣

Air Force one is the president’s plane. Marine one is the helicopter. I don’t think a ship is on the payroll.

Even though there is a Marine One helicopter, ANY air vehicle the President is in is classified as Air Force One. But it is rare when that happens.

There are two Large Cargo Planes one is for the cars and the other is for helicopters, a couple of blackhawk helicopters, and what I understand an Apache gunship.

Lewis - "I ain't paying that!" Me - You will be if you move here! Lmao

It's a freaking nightmare when the president comes to Chicago. Traffic tied up for hours.

I live in a town that was frequently visited by George W and Chaney. Yes, the motorcade is that big and moves fast. I loved it when they arrived just in time for me to be just behind them getting off work just as the roads reopened as they went along.

The “Beast” is the most amazing vehicle ever created. 18 ft long, 8 inch bullet and blast proof doors. A service member travels with him with a briefcase that carries the nuclear codes. Bullet and blast proof windows. Can run on flat tires. The rear doors on the beast can only be opened by the Secret Service and the driver is highly trained to drive in any situation and can drive backwards as fast as he can forward. The doors weigh as much as the doors on a 757 airplane!! It said to be able to launch grenades and of course it is equipped with emergency medical supplies and even pints of the Presidents own blood in case of a worse case scenario!! It is truly badass!!

I have seen the motorcade 3 times and it's always awe inspiring.

Every time any airplane flies it cost a lot of money to keep maintenance to keep it running smoothly. I’m pretty sure every time they touchdown. I’m mechanic looks at they’re playing before they takeoff again.

The one where you saw the UK flags was when Trump did his state visit to London.

The motorcade passed my home. It was crazy! So many vehicles including paramedics. One vehicle had the back window open. There were 4 or 6 men with big ass weapons. It was insane.

Fuel (all vehicles are armoured so very heavy), salaries (imagine those 100 people get paid pretty well), and as you said, prepared for everything. That all costs money and good money considering the task.

i have been in a presidential motorcade. i was working as a paramedic in California and we were the last vehicle in the motorcade. it’s a sight to be seen.

When I was in high school the G8 held it's annual summit in Denver where I was raised. So we got to watch all 8 leaders arrive on their jets and see then parked out on the tarmac at the International Airport. We also got to see each one of them arrive downtown at the summit location with their motorcade etc. It was all extremely impressive to watch.

I remember when John F Kennedy was assassinated. It was a scary time. Unlike today, we didn't have instant communication. Then we watched Jack Ruby shoot Lee Harvey Oswald on live TV to add to the confusion and uncertainty. The Beatles came along the next month and save us.

Yes, I saw one in Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson when Obama was in office. It's crazy how long it goes on for.. when you have to pull over, and wait to go wherever you were going. My 5 minute trip to the gas station turned into 45 minutes 😅

Another precaution is when he travels to another city, one of the hospitals will clear a floor just in case he is hurt while visiting. Where I live it used to be one of better known hospitals but now they've changed it because another hospital handles gunshots victims better. A few of my buddies that worked at the first hospital said it was a nightmare getting ready for when he came, but they no longer are the hospital that he would go to if something happened.

I have seen the motorcade here in New York City. There are multiple routes and each has security. It is beyond impressive. Decoy Presidential limos as well.

14:53 when trump drove around Daytona, they compared the specs of the beast to a nascar stock car, top speed of the beast is labeled “sufficient”

Yes, I live between Nasa and the Ellington Field Airport Base and presidents traffic it frequently when arriving. All roads via route of the motorcade are blocked while an endless amount of vehicles parade through. It's quite a sight to see but annoying for the traffic jam that remains.

I’ve seen the motorcade dozens of times. You expect it when living in the DC area. The announcer doesn’t mention the press vans or VIP vehicles. Plus dozens of police cars lining the route- which can change immediately if an issue pops up.

When the presidential motorcade came through our small town in western North Carolina (USA) there were SUVs ahead of the president’s car with automatic weapons. The back of the SUV was left open with these secret service men sitting with automatic weapons.

You must remember, along with the bedrooms, offices luxury seating etc. while the President is on Air Force One, he is also capable of launching a full out war at any moment if necessary, including a nuclear war, so the avionics, security and information systems are top of the line. Not to mention the ability pf the plane to avoid, counteract or survive missile strikes as needed. Yeah, would not mind a trip on AFO myself.

Yes. I've seen one motorcade. It was back in 22 when Biden came to Portland, Oregon. It's pretty rare for a president to visit Oregon. We don't decide any elections. And in most cases, the election is called before our polls close.

I saw the Presidential Motorcade once when I was in Las Vegas. It was so weird to see all 8 lanes of traffic completely empty before the motorcade came though!

I’ve never seen the motorcade in person but I live in San Francisco and last November the president hosted a banquet with the leaders of China a few blocks from my home. I heard his overwatch choppers circling around all evening. After they vacated I took a stroll around the grounds as they were disassembling all the tents and whatnot. His personal helicopter also landed near where I take my 7 year old to play, a picturesque field near the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. Pretty cool stuff, very America! 🇺🇸

The government gets to the location and sets up at least 2 weeks before the visit. It's insane the things that are in place by the time he arrives. My experience was back in the early 90's so things may have changed since then.

Here in Baltimore, President Clinton motorcade...the area was in complete lockdown for driving....good thing I was walking.

I used to live in Houston TX, really close to (like next to) NASA space center. In that area there's an army base center with a military airport (Ellington Airport) in it which the president would use when visiting the city. Needless to say I would witness this event, and many more often.

I've seen the Motorcade 2 times in my life that i can remember. Once in 2002 when I was in Washington DC for a 5th grade safety patrol field trip and once in 2004 when the then president came to my hometown for a few events. One of which was at my former elementary school where my younger siblings were still attending. There was literally secret service and a sniper in my grandparent's yard 2 blocks away from the school. Really cool experience and memory.

I’d like to suggest Michelle Khar’s video where she did some minor basic training with secret service. It was fascinating. The video sorta goes over some of the training they go through to protect the president in person as well as the motorcade.

When the President there is always a member carrying the presidents blood. The US President is considered the most important leader in the world. Remember staff etc., cost

Yes. The convoy happens whenever the President travels. They also involve local law enforcement to block roads. The President always drives on empty streets. I live in Seattle and we have lots of hills running north to south, so our roads are more limited east to west. Every time the President visits, it feels like our entire downtown shuts down for as long as it lasts. Considering, it's pretty efficient though.

Back in the 1990s, we're on our way to Orlando from Disney World. And The President was on his way to Disney World. The secret service had both sides of the freeway shut down until they passed.

I was in New York City when President Bush made his surprise visit to Yankee Stadium after 9-11. He only had “The Beast”, two SUVs in the front and one SUV in the back with the rear window open with secret service ready to defend the rear. Everybody moved to the side as they drove through traffic. It was quite a surprise to see them coming up behind in the rear view mirror.

Living in Seattle WA whenever the President comes to town Air Force One always lands at Boeing Field (the closest private airport to Seattle) and then they entirely close down I-5 so the motorcade can travel without obstruction. I lived up the hill from Boeing Field and once got to see the motorcade assemble and drive north on I-5 to Seattle for some event that the President was attending. Impressive to say the least!

I was in Washington DC in November 2022 for my senior trip and I got to witness the presidential escort. This video doesn’t lie.

After work, and during rush hour traffic, I was headed east on the 101 FWY (pretty much a parking lot during rush hour traffic). I noticed that there was absolutely no traffic on the other side of the FWY! Absolutely no vehicles of any kind. Then I saw a lone car... I remember thinking why is there just 1 car and how did it get on the FWY? After a few more miles/minutes there was a convoy of black vehicles and it became clear that it was the Presidential motorcade. After the motorcade passed I had to travel a little more until I saw a mass of "normal" vehicles which the police had been holding and had just released.

A week or two ago I think? Trump visited a Chik-Fil-A and ordered 30 Milkshakes 😅

I saw a presidential motorcade in 1972. Richard and Pat Nixon. Times have really changed, they drove by in an open convertible.

There is a reason the defense budget is $800B

Gotta remember how many people are working on each flight. Plus any escort jets. Plus all the personnel for the motorcade. Plus that transport plane. Plus all the fuel. And any mid air refueling tankers and their crews. Plus when the president goes anywhere there are advanced teams at least a week ahead scouting multiple routes and alternate plans and all sorts of work. Plus... it's a big list. And it adds up.

Love this narrators voice in US videos heh.. 👍

I’ve never seen the presidential motorcade, but I have seen security for an ex-president. George Bush went to a funeral in Michigan and the amount of police was impressive to say the least every possible entranceway on the highway was blocked in security for the event was over the top and that was an ex-president.

I have! Biden was in Portland Oregon and they were driving past my work. I walked to the end of the street where they were going to be driving by. It was pretty amazing to see both the beast and all the vehicles that followed it.

17:33 I didn't see the motorcade, but got stuck in traffic untill it passed. I did see Airforce one right after take off.

Working in DC 40 years saw multiple motorcades presidential and foreign . Saw Gorbachev once. Roads completely blocked.

2:35 yes! I’m a paramedic and have been part of quite a number of events where we’ve met The President at one of the Air Force Reserve Bases and been part of the escort!

I have seen it twice and it is impressive and makes us proud!

The scene with the men walking outside the limo is probably during the inauguration. During the inauguration parade, the President sometimes gets out and walks along Pennsylvania Avenue and he needs protection. The narrator keeps saying the NSA but the NSA does not protect the President. The U.S. Secret Service protects the President. Yes, the full motorcade is used even for a trip to McDonalds.

Yes. I've seen the presidential motorcade several time. When we were stationed in DC at Andrew's it was so cool. You couldn't enter the gate at the time you had to wait. The President has emergency vehicles as well. President Biden just came into town in Tampa. Secrete service also shuts down bridges that go over any road the motorcade travels. The cost is for the amount of security measures. Seeing Biden fall Upstairs never gets old 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I had a friend in the early 2000s that would drive one of the decoy cars, in the 90s, I thought they used to have 3 decoys, but he would drive one of the decoy cars on this motorcade. I asked him if he was ever worried about getting blown up or anything, he said there was no chance of that, I didn't realize how safe he really was.

One of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen in person. They shut down streets sometimes and part of highways

I have seen it in person, once, and I have, of course, seen it many times on television. All the roads are shut down, regardless the distance. By the way, you can't see inside the windows of The Beast. The motorcade generally drives too fast. The first scene with all the Secret Service guys walking on the side of the car was likely a Presidential Inauguration parade from the Capitol to the White House. Also, where you saw the interspersed British and American flags, was likely in London. Her Late Majesty used to do that as I recall when the American President came to call. That looked like the road on approach to Buckingham Palace, though, I could be wrong. Fun video, Lewis. I wasn't surprised to learn any of this, but it was fun watching your face fill with amazement. Peace

It's not the fuel that's costly...it's the security and personal that cost the most!

Heck we can't even know everything that comes to The Beast

Secret Service only walks outside of The Beast when traveling in parade march. The automobiles are constantly moving around and shuffle the line up for Security. It's very Impressive watching the motorcade go by.

I have seen a couple. They stop you from moving or walking while the Motorcade is moving. And you can't see into the ones where the officials are sitting. Plus I didn't see the thing I called the assault tank. They had guns on top and someone on top riding. Got to wave at them and the president. They rolled down the window so we could see him. Very nice.

@1:28 yeah the president was taking his seat in office that day!!!!!!

At my last job the last Vice President came for some speech or something idk what it was maybe campaign related. And he had a trail of vehicles and no on knew which one he was in. They entered a building and came out later. And even the Vice President has snipers. We didn't know about them being there until we saw them but they were all on top of all of the surrounding buildings. Once in a lifetime opportunity.

I got held up twice for an hour each time for the vice presidents motorcade

I’ve seen the convoy because I live in Maryland not far from DC. I’ve even seen them practicing driving the motorcade near where the Secret Service training center is. I saw the motorcade in Baltimore when President Obama was in office.

My grandfather worked for an aerospace company & designed the stairs on Air Force One that Biden now uses to get on. They’re the “special” stairs on the aircraft. The short stairs.

I once watched a show in which they were talking about the same topic. In it several days before the President visits another country. Secret service go to find a secure place to store fuel for both airforce 1 and the 2 Presidential Plane. Both planes go to whatever country they are traveling to incase something happens to the one the President is flying in. Any way they bring their own fuel to the secure location and guard it to make sure that it isn't tampered with in anyway.

I've seen the motorcade a couple of years ago. I'm surprised it doesn't costs more than what he said about the Beast ... Love your reaction to the Price and our presidents Air Force One and the Beast.

Yeah, have seen the motorcade in Colorado on I-25, there was 12 presidential cars, and 6 squad cars.

I haven’t seen the motorcade in person, but I’ve felt its effect. President Biden was in NY last week and the traffic was insane

The motorcade is a huge pain in the ass. Many of us hate it when we hear something about the president visiting somewhere nearby. It disrupts traffic for 2 or 3 zip codes.