President Donald Trump toured the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday. He departed from Dobbins Air Force in Cobb County, where Air Force One landed shortly after 3:30 p.m., around 6:15 p.m.
View photos from Trump's visit.
Minute-by-minute updates of Trump’s visit:
6:18 p.m.: Air Force and President Trump have departed Dobbins.
6:09 p.m.: The President has returned to Dobbins. All interstates have re-opened.
Looks like ALL interstates are back OPEN. GSP just paced traffic on I-75/nb at I-285. Traffic is still a mess all over metro Atlanta. #ATLtraffic https://t.co/dD2zr5BB3p
— Triple Team Traffic (@WSBTraffic) March 6, 2020
6:03 p.m.: Traffic all over metro Atlanta is clogged due to the President's motorcade forcing interstate closures.
All lanes SHUTDOWN on 75/nb through northwest Atlanta in to Cobb county as the Presidential motorcade heads back to Dobbins Air Reserve base. Massive delays all over town. Continuing coverage on @wsbradio & @wsbtv. #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/dG8f8qR0BF
— Alex Williams (@AlexWilliamsWSB) March 6, 2020
5:50 p.m.: President Trump and his motorcade are making the return trip to Dobbins.
5:38 p.m.: President Trump has wrapped up his visit to the CDC. The motorcade will now return to Dobbins.
And we’re off, about to race back through Atlanta traffic just in time for rush hour. pic.twitter.com/1G6U2Y77wi
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) March 6, 2020
5:29 p.m.: President Trump continues to speak to the media at the CDC. According to his schedule released by the White House, he was to depart at 5:15 to return to Dobbins.
5:17 p.m.: The President says anyone who needs a test for the coronavirus will be able to get one.
5:15 p.m.: Gov. Brian Kemp addresses the media at the CDC, saying testing for the coronavirus is ahead of schedule.
5:07 p.m.: I-75 northbound into Marietta and portions of I-285 are now closed to prepare for Trump's return to Dobbins.
5:02 p.m.: I-85 southbound is closed heading into Midtown in anticipation of Trump's return to Dobbins.
And we now see that I-85/sb is SHUTDOWN heading in to midtown. Presidential motorcade will be traveling this route in just a while. #ATLtraffic https://t.co/DusaOlWN5e
— Triple Team Traffic (@WSBTraffic) March 6, 2020
4:56: CDC scientists tell President Trump about efforts to speed up testing for the coronavirus. The President says he is confident in the agency's "fantastic work."
4:45 p.m.: The President says he's impressed with the CDC lab during his tour. "It's incredible," Trump says.
Trump says he’s impressed with “how professional” the CDC lab is. “It’s incredible,” he declares. #gapol pic.twitter.com/780tq8J2Js
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) March 6, 2020
4:41 p.m.: The President is walking into a lab at the CDC headquarters.
4:34 p.m.: The President has arrived at the CDC, where he will get a tour.
After running through a maze of corridors and up a few flights of stairs, the panting press corps has arrived at a lab on CDC’s main campus where Trump will soon tour. #gapol pic.twitter.com/3MujgNP41g
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) March 6, 2020
4:23 p.m.: Interstates along Trump's route have re-opened. But they will close again for his return trip to Dobbins.
I-75/sb, I-285/nb/wb, I-85/nb & the Connector/nb (75-85) are all back open. Roads will shutdown again when the President heads back to Dobbins. Still with @wsbradio & @wsbtv for updates. #ATLtraffic https://t.co/niLX5ErC5p
— Triple Team Traffic (@WSBTraffic) March 6, 2020
4:18 p.m.: The Presidential motorcade has exited the interstate at North Druid Hills Road on the way to the CDC.
4:02 p.m.: Trump, along with Gov. Brian Kemp, Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Sen. David Perdue are leaving Dobbins. Rep. Doug Collins is traveling in a separate vehicle.
RED ALERT Cobb Co & Atlanta: Presidential Motorcade...I-75/sb SHUTDOWN leaving Marietta in to Midtown. The Connector/nb (75-85) SHUTDOWN at 17th St. I-285/eb/wb SHUTDOWN at I-75. #ATLtraffic https://t.co/kTgeaYu0Zi pic.twitter.com/D7W4sEcJBG
— Triple Team Traffic (@WSBTraffic) March 6, 2020
3:56 p.m.: Trump is off Air Force One and is greeting Georgia leaders.
Trump has deplaned, shaking hands with @GovKemp and the rest of the crew. #gapol pic.twitter.com/r02D8QNAdI
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) March 6, 2020
3:52 p.m.: Interstate closures have begun on I-75 southbound from Marietta to Midtown, according to the WSB Traffic Center. I-285 eastbound is closed at 75. The exit ramps are also closed.
The President has arrived & road closures have begun. I-75sb/nb shutting down between Marietta and Midtown. I-285/eb/wb will close at I-75. I-85/nb closed leaving Midtown. All exits closed as well. #ATLtraffic https://t.co/kTgeaYu0Zi https://t.co/EecDyHlxCy
— Triple Team Traffic (@WSBTraffic) March 6, 2020
3:45 p.m.: Among the dignitaries awaiting Trump are Gov. Brian Kemp and U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, who is running again his choice for a U.S. Senate seat
President Trump has arrived in Atlanta to visit the CDC to discuss his approach to the coronavirus #gapol pic.twitter.com/63XNc75T3q
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) March 6, 2020
3:39 p.m. Air Force One has landed at Dobbins. The exact route Trump will take and his schedule have not been released. But from Dobbins, Trump's heavily fortified motorcade — which includes Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler — will travel roughly 20 miles to the CDC on Clifton Road. Expect heavy security along the route, including temporary interstate closures.
.@realdonaldtrump, @SenDavidPerdue and I are on our way to Georgia to tour the @cdcgov and discuss how federal, state and local agencies are working together to combat the #coronavirus and keep Americans safe. pic.twitter.com/xwZfXrpRuF
— Senator Kelly Loeffler (@SenatorLoeffler) March 6, 2020
Then, Trump will travel back to Dobbins around 5:15 p.m. He’ll take off from the Cobb airfield shortly before 6 p.m. and will head to West Palm Beach for a fundraising event.
The good news? It won’t be raining. Friday afternoon’s forecast includes sunshine and a high of 52 degrees, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologists.
Trump’s first visit to the Atlanta-based CDC comes during the height of the coronavirus scare. Earlier this week, Georgia leaders confirmed two cases of the virus in Fulton County.
Prior to his trip to Atlanta, Trump visited tornado-ravaged areas of Tennessee.