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U.S. President Donald Trump cut short his weekend stay at Camp David and returned to the White House on Saturday as tensions escalated in the Middle East and the State Department urged Americans to reconsider travel to and through the region.
The White House changed Trump’s schedule, which had previously called for him to return Sunday, with Marine One expected to arrive near the White House at about 7:00 p.m. local time, according to a White House pool report.
The administration gave no reason for the change. Weekend presidential travel plans can change, including because of weather, and forecasts called for rain and thunderstorms around Camp David on Sunday.
The schedule change came as the State Department and several U.S. embassies issued security alerts over rising Middle East tensions.
The State Department urged Americans outside the region to “seriously reconsider” travel to and through the Middle East, while those already there were advised to remain vigilant and prepare for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and other disruptions.
“Due to tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” the department said.
It cited hostilities by Iran-backed Houthis against Saudi Arabia, including attacks involving civilian airports, and warned that the conflict “has the potential to escalate rapidly.”
The department also cautioned that Iran and groups supporting it could target U.S. interests, businesses, institutions and locations associated with Americans worldwide.
The warnings came as the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthis said the group fired a ballistic missile toward Riyadh at dawn Saturday, after a fire broke out near the Saudi capital’s international airport.
Earlier Saturday, a North American Aerospace Defense Command F-16 intercepted a general aviation aircraft after it entered restricted airspace near Camp David, where Trump was staying in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains.
The First Air Force, a unit of U.S. Northern Command, said the intercept occurred over Thurmont, Maryland, at about 7:50 a.m.
The fighter deployed flares to attract the pilot’s attention before safely escorting the aircraft out of the restricted area.
Officials said there was no indication the aircraft posed a threat to Trump, Camp David or people on the ground.
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