Ex-GOP strategist explains Trump’s latest baffling move
U.S. President Donald Trump at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., June 19, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
June 22, 2026 | 06:49AM ET Trump
In the past, U.S. President Donald Trump wasn't shy about voicing his total disdain for Camp David — making it clear that he found the presidential retreat in Frederick County, Maryland extremely boring. But Trump headed to Camp David over the weekend, and former GOP strategist Rick Wilson laid out some possible motivations in a "Fast Politics" video with liberal Molly Jong-Fast.
Wilson told Jong-Fast, "Everyone is surprised that Donald Trump is at Camp David because the exact quote, before, was, 'I get f–– bored there in 30 minutes.' Trump does not like Camp David…. I think he's been there, in this administration, never. And I think he went once or twice in the previous (administration). So, this is either the second or third time that I can recall."
The Never Trump conservative added, "What's curious about the whole thing, Molly…. There is a degree to which I am very curious."
Wilson laid out some possible reasons why Trump ventured to Camp David when he would much rather go to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Wilson told Jong-Fast, "If you were looking for somewhere very private where you wanted, say — I don't know, I'm going to speculate; this is just speculation — if you wanted to have doctors come and attend to you, not at the White House. Or not have to go to Walter Reed (Medical Center). You might go to Camp David. You might want to get away."
The former GOP strategist emphasized that Camp David is very private, which might explain Trump's reasons for visiting a place he was openly disdainful of in the past.
"It is way up in the Catoctin Mountains in Maryland," Wilson told Jong-Fast. "You go down a long, long set of pretty much backroads. And there will be more checkpoints than the law allows. Nobody sneaks up on Camp David. Nobody creeps through the woods to get to Camp David unless they want to die. Nobody flies a drone over Camp David unless they want the drone shot down."
Wilson, known for his work with The Lincoln Project, speculated that at Camp David, Trump can temporarily escape questions about his "stupid war" with Iran or his health.
The Never Trumper told Jong-Fast, "It is a restricted airspace, restricted facility…. Every president has traditionally loved Camp David, in its modern iteration, because no one is around. The pressure is absolutely off."
