Trump returns to White House as State Department issues security alerts for Middle East

President Trump cut his weekend trip to Camp David short a day early, returning to Washington, D.C., on Saturday evening. 

The president touched down at the Ellipse just before 8 p.m., according to a White House pool report. The White House’s official social media account shared a video clip of Trump departing Marine One. 

The White House did not immediately respond to comment about why the president made an early return. Trump was originally scheduled to depart Camp David on Sunday. 

The president’s return to D.C. follows a new security alert issued by the State Department on Saturday. The department advised Americans located in the Middle East to “exercise heightened vigilance” and prepare for potential travel disruptions amid new attacks from the Iranian-backed Houthis on Saudi Arabia.

“This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly,” the department’s advisory said. “Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region. Those who do travel to or from the region should monitor information about airport and airline operations.” 

Saudi Arabia confirmed Saturday that the Yemen-based Houthi rebel group attempted to attack its capital with a ballistic missile, The Associated Press reported.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the group attacked with a “large number of ballistic and cruise missiles” and drones to target the kingdom’s capital city, Riyadh, and the facilities of Saudi oil company Aramco in Yanbu. 

This attempted attack marks the Houthis first targeting of Riyadh since renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and the militant group during the ongoing Iran war.