President Obama will forego a portion of his planned trip to India in order to visit Saudi Arabia, where he plans to “pay respects” to the family of the late King Abdullah.
The White House initially planned to send a delegation led by Vice President Joe Biden to pay respects to the deceased leader, but scuttled the plans Saturday as Obama departed Washington for India.
Abdullah, a longtime U.S. ally, died Friday at the age of 90 and the crown passed to his brother, Crown Prince Salman.
Obama canceled a visit to the Taj Mahal that was slated for the end of his three-day trip to India so that he and First Lady Michelle Obama could travel to the Saudi capital of Riyadh and meet with the country’s new leader.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Saturday the schedule was adjusted when officials realized Biden and Obama would cross paths as the president departed the region and the vice president arrived.
But the bulk of Obama’s symbolic trip to India will proceed as scheduled, with Monday’s Republic Day parade as the capstone event of his visit.
The Taj Mahal had been on “virtual lock down” this week as U.S. security teams prepared the iconic Indian mausoleum for the president’s arrival, according to the Washington Post.
This week’s India visit will mark the second time Obama has traveled to the country during his presidency, making him the only U.S. president to visit India twice, according to Time.
Critics have questioned the necessity of Obama’s diplomatic trip, pointing to the fact that the president already met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the fall.
