President Obama came to Salt Lake City last night and stayed at the Salt Lake City Sheraton. This was the first time he has visited Utah in his presidency and the focus of his visit was to announce some solar energy programs. He was here for less than 16 hours total.
In order to add more security for his visit, the Utah Transit Authority made a wall around the Sheraton with 16 city buses.
16 UTA buses form a barricade outside the Sheraton along 500 South. Possible security for Pres. Obama. @abc4utah pic.twitter.com/1rfWL4yUtU
— ABC4RickAaron (@G4URickAaron) April 2, 2015
Couldn’t even go to the Starbucks at the Sheraton to get a frappuccino. THANKS OBAMA! pic.twitter.com/IhyBnbDWiR
— Stephanie Jarvi (@steffiej) April 2, 2015
Locally most folks wanted to know why President Obama wouldn’t have stayed at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City or any of the fine properties in Park City. The speculation is due to the short notice of his visit, the Sheraton happened to have more rooms available then the Grand America Hotel.
However, several locals took to Twitter to pan his decision to stay at the Sheraton.
Staying at the downtown Sheraton is easily the worst decision Obama has made during his presidency.
— Don Eisenbarth (@bigdondoo) April 3, 2015
Biggest upset of March Madness time is going to Obama booking the Sheraton over the Grand America.
— Spencer Ryan Hall (@spencerhall) April 2, 2015
As a heavily Republican state, some folks were ready to see the President leave.
Can Obama get out of Utah please. Ever since he’s gotten here the weather has gotten terrible…. thanks Obama
… also talked about martial law?
@Eric… Haha…well said sir
@ Joseph….you’re an idiot to think that Obama’s leadership had anything to do with the level of security in Salt Lake City over W’s. Different times. Simple as that.
When George W. Bush was president, he came to my city. He stayed overnight at the Radisson. No, the streets were not blocked off nor barricades erected. There were a couple of SS agents out in the street to stop anyone trying to turn into the hotel’s driveway.
If President Obama’s team thinks the way this was handled in SLC is a legitimate way to handle presidential security, and not a gross overreach, then they are nuts IMHO.
Joseph – it’s probably so the secret service can’t drive off site and crash their car again