POTUS can’t drive

[Rye Miles #13621]

I hope to keep this non political please! President Trump bought a Tesla yesterday but can drive it. I didn’t know a POTUS can’t drive a car on public roads. Interesting article explaining this below:

 

https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/why-us-presidents-cant-drive-cars

 

https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/trump-cant-drive-tesla-elon-musk-d9cdzbd3r

Edited March 12 by Rye Miles #13621

[Dapper Dave]

I would simply assume due to the risk of assassination and vehicle accidents, that the President wouldn't be driving much, unless on his own property. Kinda hard to go on a drive when you have to have the motorcade of Secret Service with you, I'd reckon.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

He could drive at Gettysburg but he prefers his own properties where secret service must pay for rooms.

[Pat Riot]

The President cannot drive per Secret Service requirements. Apparently the same goes for the president’s spouse. 
The only time I felt sorry for Hillary Clinton was during an interview she was asked if there was anything she did not like about being the wife of the president and living in the White House and she quickly responded “I cannot drive my car or any car at all…” She went on to say that one of her greatest passions was driving. Just hitting the road and going places. 
I could “Feel her pain” in that moment. 

[Rye Miles #13621]

36 minutes ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said:

He could drive at Gettysburg but he prefers his own properties where secret service must pay for rooms.

He can only drive on his own private property. Read the articles I linked to. Bush and Reagan drove on their ranches.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

And carts on his golf courses, but they are not so private property.

[Rye Miles #13621]

10 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

The President cannot drive per Secret Service requirements. Apparently the same goes for the president’s spouse. 
The only time I felt sorry for Hillary Clinton was during an interview she was asked if there was anything she did not like about being the wife of the president and living in the White House and she quickly responded “I cannot drive my car or any car at all…” She went on to say that one of her greatest passions was driving. Just hitting the road and going places. 
I could “Feel her pain” in that moment. 

Well there's this, I think Hillary was mistaken.

Yes, Melania Trump and Barron Trump can drive personally, as there are no restrictions preventing them from doing so. However, given their public status, they may often have security arrangements in place when traveling.

[Rye Miles #13621]

3 minutes ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said:

And carts on his golf courses, but they are not so private property.

There's a bunch of videos showing Trump driving golf carts on one of his many golf courses.

[Pat Riot]

1 minute ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

Well there's this, I think Hillary was mistaken.

Yes, Melania Trump and Barron Trump can drive personally, as there are no restrictions preventing them from doing so. However, given their public status, they may often have security arrangements in place when traveling.

Pretty sure the woman wasn’t lying. The look on her face and in her eyes was genuine disappointment and loss. Now, I may be mistaken and she may have been talking about her time as Secretary of State and while running for President, but she wasn’t allowed to drive per the Secret Service at some point in her time associated with the Presidency and her time in federal service. 

[Rye Miles #13621]

11 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

Pretty sure the woman wasn’t lying. The look on her face and in her eyes was genuine disappointment and loss. Now, I may be mistaken and she may have been talking about her time as Secretary of State and while running for President, but she wasn’t allowed to drive per the Secret Service at some point in her time associated with the Presidency and her time in federal service. 

Well that's weird because according to what I've come up with Melania can drive. She has SS with her at all times but she can drive. Maybe when Hillary was running for president she couldn't drive but there's nothing stopping a first lady from driving according to what I've read!

 

Yes, as the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump can drive a car, although she typically has security and staff to assist her. There are no official restrictions preventing her from driving.

Edited March 12 by Rye Miles #13621

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

1 hour ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

There's a bunch of videos showing Trump driving golf carts on one of his many golf courses.

I expect everyone else in the area has been searched.

[Eyesa Horg]

Sooo Jill can take the Vette shopping, but sniffy can't!🤣

[Rye Miles #13621]

Melania’s car collection!

 

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=melania+trump+car+collection&ia=web

[Cypress Sun]

I doubt Trump has driven himself anywhere in years.

 

If I was as wealthy as him and his even wealthier buddy, I'd build a race track (on my own property of course), just for s n g. See if the Secret Service can keep up.

[Rye Miles #13621]

16 minutes ago, Cypress Sun said:

I doubt Trump has driven himself anywhere in years.

 

If I was as wealthy as him and his even wealthier buddy, I'd build a race track (on my own property of course), just for s n g. See if the Secret Service can keep up.

He’s said he hasn’t driven in a very long time. Being rich or not I’d want to drive, I love driving😎

[Jeff, #21334]

If I remember correctlyI think reagan got bucked off of a horse on his ranch and the secret service.Wouldn't let him ride anymore

[irish ike, SASS #43615]

4 hours ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said:

but he prefers his own properties where secret service must pay for rooms.

Where ever the President is staying the they pay for rooms for the secret service, support staff etc.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

4 minutes ago, irish ike, SASS #43615 said:

Where ever the President is staying the they pay for rooms for the secret service, support staff etc.

Not at Gettysburg was my point.

[Blackwater 53393]

They’d have to impeach my @ss!!  I’d be knocking some poor Secret Service agent on his backside and commandeering a vehicle!!

 

The Rose Garden would become a go-kart track and whatever “presidential retreat” they set aside would have a paved short track and a drag strip installed!!.

 

Come ta’ think of it, the Secret Service guys would need to go to school with John Force’s crew!  Then they could be the pit crew!!😜

 

 

[Trailrider #896]

3 hours ago, Jeff, #21334 said:

If I remember correctlyI think reagan got bucked off of a horse on his ranch and the secret service.Wouldn't let him ride anymore

Might have contributed to his Alzheimer's.  Trump being from New York City, probably not much reason to have driven by himself. If he is driving a golf cart on a public course, I'm surprised the Secret Service wouldn't insist on having the cart armored. 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

How often would he actually drive himself?

[Chicken Rustler, SASS #26680]

That's why I never ran for President, I'd have to go four years without riding a motorcycle! Eight years if I found out what it's like to be President and was still stupid enough to do it again.

[Matthew Duncan]

On 3/12/2025 at 7:17 AM, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I hope to keep this non political please! President Trump bought a Tesla yesterday but can drive it. I didn’t know a POTUS can’t drive a car on public roads. Interesting article explaining this below:

 

https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/why-us-presidents-cant-drive-cars

 

https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/trump-cant-drive-tesla-elon-musk-d9cdzbd3r

I wasn’t aware that the SS had the legal authority to make laws!  Just because it’s a SS policy doesn’t mean the POTUS could drive if he wanted to.

[Rye Miles #13621]

1 hour ago, Matthew Duncan said:

I wasn’t aware that the SS had the legal authority to make laws!  Just because it’s a SS policy doesn’t mean the POTUS could drive if he wanted to.

I dont think SS actually made the law if there is one. It may have been Congress. It says the SS ENFORCES the policy.

 

According to this there is actually no law. It’s just the SS enforcing the policy!

https://www.slashgear.com/1801461/president-not-allowed-drive-reason/

Edited March 14 by Rye Miles #13621

[Blackwater 53393]

2 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I dont think SS actually made the law if there is one. It may have been Congress. It says the SS ENFORCES the policy.

 

According to this there is actually no law. It’s just the SS enforcing the policy!

https://www.slashgear.com/1801461/president-not-allowed-drive-reason/

In that case, they’d be welcome to ride with me, but if I decided to drive they’d better just slide over and hand me the keys!!!

[Bandit Biker]

I don’t think they can drive on public roads.

I’ve seen old videos of Bush driving on his ranch.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

Days are gone when the Prez can skinny dip in the Potomac

[Blackwater 53393]

If there’s no law on any book to prohibit it, then it’s someone’s policy decision and those can be overturned, overruled, or ignored!!

 

If the president decides to take the car and drive to the burger joint, what are they going to do? Arrest him??  🤪

[Rye Miles #13621]

29 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

If there’s no law on any book to prohibit it, then it’s someone’s policy decision and those can be overturned, overruled, or ignored!!

 

If the president decides to take the car and drive to the burger joint, what are they going to do? Arrest him??  🤪

I would think the president has more respect for the SS who’s trying to protect him. He would probably love to go out by himself or with his wife but he has more respect than that. That’s my take.

Edited March 15 by Rye Miles #13621