In-town pool report #2 - departure

After a last look at the ballroom and helipad construction from above, President Trump departed the White House enroute Texas.

He arrived at the Ellipse at 1:43 p.m., considerably later than scheduled. He was out of the limo and on Marine One after a short walk by 1:45. He was too far away from the pool for any questions.

Marine One lifted off at 1:51, followed quickly by a second Marine helicopter.

Under a blue sky with only faint wisps of cloud, both banked sharply and turned back to the White House, flying over both the ballroom and the helipad under construction and banking sharply again to give the president a good view.

Then it was back on the normal flight path, toward the Washington Monument and Andrews.

Earlier, Vice President Vance, Defense Secretary Hegseth and General Caine were spotted on campus prior to the scheduled 11 a.m. intelligence briefing.

The out-of-town pool has a manifest of passengers traveling with the president.