President Obama and Russian president Dmitry Medvedev had lunch at the recently-reopened Ray’s Hell Burger on Wilson Boulevard around noon today.
Obama ordered a cheddar cheeseburger with onions, lettuce, tomato and pickles, according to White House pool reports. Medvedev had a cheddar cheeseburger with onions, jalapeno peppers and mushrooms and a Coke.
Lunchtime crowds gathered on Wilson Boulevard to watch as the two presidents returned to the District via motorcade around 12:30.
Two couples visiting the area from North Carolina were seated at a table right next to the two world leaders.
“We were able to meet [President Obama] and shake his hand — it was just an awesome experience,” said Ricky Wadford, who also talked to Medvedev had his baseball cap signed by Obama.
President Obama is apparently quite a fan of Ray’s. He dined there last year with Vice President Joe Biden.
Two of the photos below are courtesy of Barry Skidmore of People Powered Arlington. See video of the motorcade after the jump.
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Mr. Wadford has about 8 beer bottles in front of him….
That is where I’d take the Russian president if I was showing him around.
Ray’s = overpriced & soggy. And still no fryer?
What the hell was the guy in the van standing through the sun roof doing? I’ve seen that at several motorcades.
Mike, that’s either the CIA taking pictures of you or its a press photographer from the WH pool.
I’m not sure, because I think the pool usually are in vans at the rear of the motorcade.
I got a good look at the Nats game, and it sure as heck isn’t a weapon. Looks like some sort of video camera. And they were scanning the buildings, not passerby.
The WH press pool almost always has someone with a video camera pointed at the limo when it’s moving and the President is inside. At high speeds on say I-66, no one usually stands up – imagine a pothole or bug at 65mph. Why? On the one in a million (or billion) chance that the limo gets involved in a traffic accident or something worse, they’ll have footage of it. If nothing happens that day, just hit delete and recharge the batteries. Not a fun job on a hot day like this. I’d rather be driving next to the A/C vent on full blast.
Mike,
Here’s some video from that camera.
http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/president-obama-takes-russian-president-medvedev-out-for-a-burger-062410
I think they save the footage to make sure that there aren’t people stalking the motorcade path.
I frequent Ray’s and as a licensed CCW holder in VA, I am usually armed. What would happen if by chance I was enjoying my burger at Ray’s and Obama showed up?