The First International Visits Made by the US Presidents
International visit by the US Presidents are an important part of US diplomacy. They are a means of strengthening relations and many-a-times important agreements are also signed during such visits which are beneficial for both the governments. However, it was only in the beginning of the 20th century that the first international visit by a sitting US president was made. The first international visit was made by President Theodore Roosevelt, who visited Panama from November 14 to 17, 1906. Here we would be talking about the first international trips made by the presidents of the United States starting from Donald Trump, the current president of the United States.
Donald Trump made his first international visit to Saudi Arabia on May 19, 2017. Donald Trump is the first President to choose Saudi Arabia as the first stop on a maiden visit.
Barack Obama, who served as the President from 2009 to 2017, had made a number of international visits during his eight years in office. But his first international visit was to Canada, which was undertaken on February 19, 2009.
George W Bush, who made his first visit to Mexico on February 16, 2001, discussed a number of issues such as migration, trade, battle against illegal drugs etc with President Vincente Fox.
Bill Clinton made the first international trip to Canada from April 3 to 4, 1993, where he attended a Summit Meeting, along with Boris Yeltsin, the then President of Russia. Apart from Obama, and Clinton, three other US Presidents made their first international visit to Canada. These were George HW Bush (February 10, 1989), Lyndon B Johnson (September 16, 1964), and John F Kennedy (May 16 -18, 1961).
Gerald Ford made his first international Trip to Mexico. Gerald Ford visited Mexico on October 21, 1974. Both Jimmy Carter and Franklin D Roosevelt’s first trips were to the United Kingdom. D Eisenhower’s first international visit was to South Korea. Eisenhower visited the nation from December 2 to 5, 1952. Apart from Theodore Roosevelt, the other two US Presidents whose first international visit was made to Panama were William Howard Taft and Warren G Harding. While Taft visited Panama from January 29 to February 7, 1909, Harding visited the nation on November 24, 1920.
The table below provides information on when the US Presidents made their first international visit.
| Name of President | Date and Year | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump | May 19, 2017 | Saudi Arabia |
| Barack Obama | Feb 19, 2009 | Canada |
| George W. Bush | Feb 16, 2001 | Mexico |
| Bill Clinton | April 3-4, 1993 | Canada |
| George H. W. Bush | Feb 10, 1989 | Canada |
| Ronald Reagan | Jan 5, 1981 | Mexico |
| Jimmy Carter | May 5-11, 1977 | United Kingdom |
| Gerald Ford | Oct 21, 1974 | Mexico |
| Richard M. Nixon | February 23-24, 1969 | Belgium |
| Lyndon B. Johnson | Sep 16, 1964 | Canada |
| John F. Kennedy | May 16-18, 1961 | Canada |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower | December 2-5, 1952 | South Korea |
| Harry Truman | July 15, 1945 | Belgium |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | February 6-14, 1933 | The Bahamas The Bahamas |
| Herbert Hoover | Nov 26, 1928 | Honduras |
| Calvin Coolidge | January 15-17, 1928 | Cuba |
| Warren G. Harding | November 24, 1920 | Panama |
| Woodrow Wilson | November 18 – December 13, 1912 | Bermuda |
| William Howard Taft | January 29 – February 7, 1909 | Panama |
| Theodore Roosevelt | November 14-17, 1906 | Panama |
