What seemed like a leisurely stroll outside of the secured confines of the White House for President Obama was anything but leisurely for the Secret Service who is responsible for protecting the president.
The Washington Post reports that Obama surprised many by leaving his usual bubble to greet people on the streets of downtown Washington D.C.
Obama’s stroll was not as structured as the Secret Service would have preferred, so agents were tense when groups of people approached the president, according to the Post.
“Any time the president leaves the White House complex there are risks involved,” Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said, adding that the Secret Service uses its knowledge to mitigate those risks. “Off the record movements can be used to our advantage since there is an element of surprise. If something a protected [person] does is not on the schedule then presumably someone wishing to disrupt an event or do them harm is unaware of it as well.”
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