President Trump’s Visit to L.A. on Friday Brings Traffic
Tracy Bloom, Kareen Wynter, and John Fenoglio
President Donald Trump landed in Los Angeles Friday afternoon for a visit that police officials warned would impact the city’s rush-hour traffic.
The president began his day in California with a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, where he met with law enforcement officials and toured a section of recently rebuilt fencing while in Calexico.
President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport on April 5, 2019, as he arrives to attend fundraisers. (Credit: Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty Images)
Trump then flew into Los Angeles International Airport aboard Air Force One. The plane landed just before 4 p.m. He took off again a short time later, this time in Marine One as he headed to West Los Angeles.
A number of road closures were in effect on L.A.’s Westside and in Beverly Hills during the president’s visit, and delays were seen during the afternoon and evening hours.
The following areas were affected between the following times on Friday:
The area around Bundy Drive between Airport Avenue and West Pico Boulevard, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The area around Sunset Boulevard between South Sepulveda Boulevard and North Hillcrest Drive, from 3 to 4 p.m.
The area around Sunset Boulevard between North Hillcrest Drive and South Sepulveda Boulevard, from 6 to 7 p.m.
The area around Bundy Drive between West Pico Boulevard and Airport Avenue, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The following closures were be in place on Friday:
Sunset Boulevard between Foothill and Hillcrest roads, from 1 to 7 p.m.
Foothill, Elm and Maple drives between Sunset Boulevard and Elevado Avenue, from 1 to 7 p.m.
“Heavy traffic” was expected in West L.A. and Beverly Hills during Trump’s visit, and motorists were urged to avoid those areas if possible, the Los Angeles Police Department advised in a news release emailed to KTLA.
The president attended a re-election fundraiser at a private residence, according to the White House.
Deadline reported the home belongs to businessman Lee Samson.
Premium tickets for the fundraiser were going for $150,000, the Associated Press reported last week. The event’s top-priced tickets included a roundtable discussion, the AP stated.
A chance to attend a reception started at $15,000, while taking a photo with the president cost supporters $50,000, according to the AP.
Trump was scheduled to return to LAX after the event and travel to Las Vegas for another re-election fundraiser.
