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| Obama and Jordan’s King Take Visit on the Road | Obama and Jordan’s King Take Visit on the Road |
| (7 months later) | |
| WASHINGTON — King Abdullah II of Jordan is visiting Washington this week, making the rounds at the State Department, the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill. President Obama is in town, too, playing host to the French president, signing an executive order on wages and getting briefed on a snowstorm bearing down on the East Coast. | |
| So where are he and the king having dinner on Friday? At a desert estate in Southern California. | So where are he and the king having dinner on Friday? At a desert estate in Southern California. |
| Mr. Obama’s meeting with King Abdullah, at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, Calif., raised questions at the White House on Wednesday, because the two leaders are practically running into each other here and Mr. Obama appears to have no other official business in Southern California. | Mr. Obama’s meeting with King Abdullah, at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, Calif., raised questions at the White House on Wednesday, because the two leaders are practically running into each other here and Mr. Obama appears to have no other official business in Southern California. |
| There is, however, a tantalizing bit of unofficial business for a president whose wife and daughters will be away on their own travels, leaving him alone on Presidents’ Day weekend in a secluded oasis where the forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies and a temperature of 89 degrees. | There is, however, a tantalizing bit of unofficial business for a president whose wife and daughters will be away on their own travels, leaving him alone on Presidents’ Day weekend in a secluded oasis where the forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies and a temperature of 89 degrees. |
| After seeing off the king, administration officials said, Mr. Obama plans to stay on for two days at Sunnylands to play a few rounds of golf at the estate’s recently refurbished nine-hole course, which has been played by presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to the elder George Bush. | After seeing off the king, administration officials said, Mr. Obama plans to stay on for two days at Sunnylands to play a few rounds of golf at the estate’s recently refurbished nine-hole course, which has been played by presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to the elder George Bush. |
| The White House press secretary, Jay Carney, noted that Mr. Obama on Friday would travel first to Fresno, where he will meet with farmers and local officials to discuss the devastating drought in California. Mr. Obama called the state’s governor, Jerry Brown, last month to pledge federal support, and lawmakers are pushing rival aid bills in Congress. | The White House press secretary, Jay Carney, noted that Mr. Obama on Friday would travel first to Fresno, where he will meet with farmers and local officials to discuss the devastating drought in California. Mr. Obama called the state’s governor, Jerry Brown, last month to pledge federal support, and lawmakers are pushing rival aid bills in Congress. |
| “The king is also going out to California,” Mr. Carney said under gimlet-eyed questioning. “The president and the king can meet there, and will meet there, as part of this trip.” | “The king is also going out to California,” Mr. Carney said under gimlet-eyed questioning. “The president and the king can meet there, and will meet there, as part of this trip.” |
| In fact, Jordanian officials said, the sole reason King Abdullah is going to the West Coast is to meet with Mr. Obama. A color-coded “info-graphic” supplied by the Royal Hashemite Court lists a hectic schedule of 15 meetings, all in Washington this week. The king’s 16th and last meeting before flying back to Jordan is with Mr. Obama in Rancho Mirage. | In fact, Jordanian officials said, the sole reason King Abdullah is going to the West Coast is to meet with Mr. Obama. A color-coded “info-graphic” supplied by the Royal Hashemite Court lists a hectic schedule of 15 meetings, all in Washington this week. The king’s 16th and last meeting before flying back to Jordan is with Mr. Obama in Rancho Mirage. |
| King Abdullah did get to see Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. while in Washington, meeting him at his residence on Wednesday for breakfast. The two discussed “how best to address the growing threat of violent extremism fueled by the Syrian conflict,” according to a statement from the White House. | King Abdullah did get to see Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. while in Washington, meeting him at his residence on Wednesday for breakfast. The two discussed “how best to address the growing threat of violent extremism fueled by the Syrian conflict,” according to a statement from the White House. |
| The same issues will loom high on the agenda when Mr. Obama meets the king. On Tuesday, the president offered his most pessimistic assessment yet of the situation there, saying, “We still have a horrendous situation on the ground in Syria.” He acknowledged that his strategy to find a political solution to the war had so far been hopeless. | The same issues will loom high on the agenda when Mr. Obama meets the king. On Tuesday, the president offered his most pessimistic assessment yet of the situation there, saying, “We still have a horrendous situation on the ground in Syria.” He acknowledged that his strategy to find a political solution to the war had so far been hopeless. |
| The relaxed setting of Sunnylands has advantages, the White House said. Mr. Obama used the 200-acre estate — which was built by Walter H. Annenberg, the publisher, philanthropist and diplomat — as the site for an informal summit meeting with President Xi Jinping of China last year. Afterward, Mr. Obama stayed on to play golf in the searing heat. | The relaxed setting of Sunnylands has advantages, the White House said. Mr. Obama used the 200-acre estate — which was built by Walter H. Annenberg, the publisher, philanthropist and diplomat — as the site for an informal summit meeting with President Xi Jinping of China last year. Afterward, Mr. Obama stayed on to play golf in the searing heat. |
| “Jordan is an invaluable ally and close friend of the United States,” said a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, Bernadette Meehan, “and Sunnylands will again offer a private location and less formal setting that will allow the president to have a wide-ranging discussion with his majesty, King Abdullah II.” | “Jordan is an invaluable ally and close friend of the United States,” said a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, Bernadette Meehan, “and Sunnylands will again offer a private location and less formal setting that will allow the president to have a wide-ranging discussion with his majesty, King Abdullah II.” |
| Jordanian officials also emphasized the informal nature of the relationship between the king and the president, who extended the invitation to California. And there may be a bit of reciprocity: King Abdullah organized a private tour of the cave city of Petra for Mr. Obama when he visited Jordan last year. | Jordanian officials also emphasized the informal nature of the relationship between the king and the president, who extended the invitation to California. And there may be a bit of reciprocity: King Abdullah organized a private tour of the cave city of Petra for Mr. Obama when he visited Jordan last year. |
| But the bachelor’s retreat in Sunnylands will carry a cost for both men: They will miss Valentine’s Day with their wives. In Mr. Obama’s case, Michelle Obama seems to be giving him a pass. | But the bachelor’s retreat in Sunnylands will carry a cost for both men: They will miss Valentine’s Day with their wives. In Mr. Obama’s case, Michelle Obama seems to be giving him a pass. |
| “I think we’re going to low-key it for Valentine’s Day,” Mrs. Obama told Ryan Seacrest last month. “We have been married for 21 years, and he never forgets a Valentine’s Day or a birthday.” | “I think we’re going to low-key it for Valentine’s Day,” Mrs. Obama told Ryan Seacrest last month. “We have been married for 21 years, and he never forgets a Valentine’s Day or a birthday.” |