In their own words: Salina airport, city leaders and police describe six days of preparing for the president's visit
On Sunday night, Nov. 1, Air Force One sat on the ramp at Salina Regional Airport, its tail lit against the dark sky. An American flag hung from a crane above a crowd gathered on the airfield, and outside Hangar 509, 2734 Arnold Court, a stage waited for President Donald Trump.
Air Force One sits on the ramp as President Donald Trump speaks at Salina Regional Airport on Sunday night, Nov. 1. Photo: Salina311
Six days earlier, none of it had been planned. In the time between, the airport had been told the visit was on, then off, then on again.
What it took to bring a sitting president to Salina on that timeline is a story told largely by the people who did the work: airport staff who set aside their regular duties for most of a week, federal, state and local agencies that shared the load, and a police department that put 35 officers on the event while patrols continued across the city. In interviews and statements to Salina311, airport, city and police leaders described how it came together.
The first call
It began on Monday, Oct. 26, when the White House contacted the airport about hosting the president on Saturday, Oct. 31, said Pieter Miller, executive director of the Salina Airport Authority.
Planning started immediately. Then, on Thursday morning, Oct. 29, the airport was told the event had been canceled. That evening, another call put it back on, this time for Sunday, Nov. 1.
"Needless to say, that made for a pretty busy few days," Miller wrote in an email to Salina311.
President Donald Trump at Salina Regional Airport on Nov. 1. Photo: Salina311
Six days of preparation
"From the airport's perspective, this was more than just finding a place to park Air Force One," Miller wrote.
Airport staff worked directly with White House advance teams, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Air Force, the Marines and other federal agencies on aircraft operations, airfield access, security and event logistics, he said. "The White House advance teams were particularly helpful in walking everyone through the sequence of events and making sure we were all on the same page," Miller wrote.
Closer to home, Miller said, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Salina Police Department, the Saline County Sheriff's Office, the Salina Fire Department, Saline County Emergency Management and K-State Salina Police all had roles. Salina police and the sheriff's office helped coordinate road closures, perimeter security, access and traffic control. Emergency management helped with parking and access. K-State Salina Police helped route buses through campus.
"Everyone had their own responsibilities, but there were plenty of times when one organization stepped in to help another," Miller wrote. "Nobody seemed too concerned about whose job something was. If something needed to get done, people worked together to make it happen and keep things moving."
In a statement to Salina311, the Salina Police Department said 35 of its officers worked the event.
"The Salina Police Department was privileged to assist with the recent presidential visit to our community. Thirty-Five Salina Police Officers were present at the event conducting an array of duties including inner and outer perimeter, traffic control and other logistical needs," the department said.
Regular patrols continued during the visit, the department said. "Patrol Officers remained on duty providing policing services to our community members without interruption and our professional staff provided exemplary assistance from the conception of the event through its conclusion."
"Many of the officers working the event were there on their day off including the entire salaried Salina Police Department Command Staff," the statement said. "The success of the event for the department is credited to all the members of the organization."
At the airport, the week belonged to the Airport Authority's own employees. "They pretty much dropped everything else they were working on and spent the better part of the week getting ready for this event," Miller wrote. "There were some long days, plenty of last-minute changes, and more than a few challenges. I'm really proud of how they handled it."
How many people worked behind the scenes in all is not known. Miller said he did not have an accurate count. "I wouldn't want to guess at a number," he wrote.
The night itself
The presidential limousine crosses the airfield. Photo: Salina311
The crowd at the outdoor rally at Salina Regional Airport. Photo: Salina311
The rally stage outside Hangar 509 on the airport grounds. Photo: Salina311
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach speaks at the rally. Photo: Salina311
By Sunday night, the work was visible across the airfield: the presidential limousine crossing the pavement, the crowd watching from behind the lines, Air Force One parked beside the hangar.
For City Commissioner Gary Norris, who joined the commission in September, that was the image he singled out.
"The coolest thing however was to see Air Force One parked on the tarmac at our airport," Norris said.
He credited the people on the ground. "Our police and fire men and women did an outstanding job," he said. He also credited the airport. "The Airport Authority and related businesses also stepped up," Norris said.
Looking back
Salina city leaders at the airport during the visit. Photo: Salina311
City Manager Jacob Wood pointed to the timeline.
"Regardless of political viewpoint, hosting a sitting President is a significant event for any community," Wood said in a statement to Salina311. "I was impressed by Salina's ability to coordinate an event of this scale with such limited notice."
Wood credited the Airport Authority for "providing the facilities, resources, and support needed to make the visit possible," and said the city's police and fire departments and the sheriff's office "did an excellent job working together to help ensure the event was safe and well organized."
"The feedback we received from White House staff and the Secret Service was very positive, and I am proud of the efforts made throughout Salina to make the visit safe and successful," he said.
City Commissioner Greg Lenkiewicz, who served as mayor in 2025, said an event of that size "requires an extraordinary amount of coordination and preparation."
"Events of this magnitude bring visitors, activity, and additional business opportunities to our community," Lenkiewicz said. "Our local businesses undoubtedly have an opportunity to benefit from this increased activity, while Salina receives valuable exposure on a national stage."
He said the police and fire departments and county and state partners deserved recognition, and that the airport "deserves recognition for its role in accommodating the logistical and operational demands associated with a presidential visit."
Miller, in the end, gave the credit to people rather than facilities.
"We've got some great facilities at the airport, but it's the people and the relationships we've built over the years that make something like this possible," he wrote.
"I think this really showed what Salina is capable of when everyone gets together and works toward the same goal," Miller wrote.
