Angelenos Brace For Presidential Motorcade Traffic

LOS ANGELES, CA —President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are expected to fly into Los Angeles Friday afternoon, impacting the evening rush hour. Between them, they'll attend six Los Angeles fundraisers over the weekend.

The president is slated to fly into Los Angeles International Airport shortly before 5 p.m. Friday before making his way to the Westside by helicopter and motorcade. Commuters should prepare for possible closures on side streets around the Santa Monica Airport, the San Diego (405) or Santa Monica (10) freeways.

SEE ALSO: Hunter Biden Charged With Tax Crimes In Los Angeles

The First Lady's motorcade may also cause road closures.

Across town, the first lady is expected to arrive at Hollywood Burbank Airport earlier in the afternoon and make her way to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Smidt Heart Institute and Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center to tour research laboratories as part of the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research. She plans to tour the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center and Smidt Heart Institute, according to the White House.

Authorities have not offered advanced warning to help motorists navigate the road closures, and they aren't likely to for security reasons. Typically when a presidential motorcade comes to town, Angelenos will find themselves in traffic, while entire sections of freeway are shut down, and police escorts whiz by.

In addition to the airports and hospital, the president and first lady will attend a flurry of fundraisers with Hollywood heavyweights. The visit, however, will start with the trip to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to highlight Jill Biden's signature cause.

"Every woman I know has a story about leaving her doctor's office with more questions than answers," the first lady said when the initiative was announced. "Not because our doctors are withholding information, but because there's just not enough research yet on how to best manage and treat even common women's health conditions. In 2023, that is unacceptable.

"Our new White House Initiative on Women's Health Research will help change that by identifying bold solutions to uncover the answers that every woman and her family deserves. We also are calling on congressional leaders, the private sector, research institutions, and philanthropy to join us in taking urgent action to improve the health and lives of women throughout the nation."

According to the White House, the initiative is aimed at "galvanizing the federal government and the private and philanthropic sectors to spur innovation, unleash transformative investment to close research gaps, and improve women's health."

Jill Biden is also expected to appear at fundraisers for her husband on Friday and Saturday.

Friday's fundraiser will take place in Santa Monica, according to the Office of the First Lady. It will be attended by Hollywood heavyweights including Steven Spielberg, Shonda Rhimes, Peter Chernin, Jim Gianopulos and Rob Reiner, while former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is among those expected to attend, according to multiple media reports.

Deadline reported that designer Michael Smith and former U.S. ambassador to Spain James Costos will be hosting the event, which will include a performance by Lenny Kravitz.

According to Deadline, tickets for the event began at $1,000, ranging to $3,300 and as high as $500,000. Those who contribute $25,000 or more will have access to a photo line.

The Associated Press reported that Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-founder of DreamWorks, will also host a fundraising gathering for Biden during the presidential visit.

Presidential visits also traditionally generate protests, which are particularly likely given tensions sparked by the Israel-Hamas war. The Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement Thursday saying it is coordinating with the Secret Service, and "additional uniformed personnel and other resources will be deployed to ensure the highest level of public safety."

"The department will continue to work with any protest organizers to facilitate lawful demonstrations while protecting the safety of all involved including surrounding communities," according to the department. "Violence of any kind will not be tolerated. The Los Angeles Police Department is asking that all individuals and groups involved in protest or counter-protest activities not allow individuals who express the intent to commit violence of property (damage) to compromise the otherwise lawful demonstration."

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.