Sam Holder
When protesters protesting the death of George Floyd gathered outside the White House, Secret Service decided to take Trump into the underground bunker.
The underground tunnel, called the President's Emergency Operations Center (PEOC), is the structure beneath the East Wing of the White House that serves as a safe shelter and a contact center for the US President and his men.
President George W Photo: U.S. National Archives.
The bunker was built during World War II to protect President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in the event of an air attack on Washington.
Under Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney was taken to the shelter when the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack took place.
In the memoirs of First Lady Laura Bush, she recounted the tragic day.
"I was taken to a conference room close to PEOC's headquarters. It was a small room with a large table. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, Adviser to President Karen Hughes, Deputy Chief of Staff Josh
The First Lady then left PEOC but was taken to the underground tunnel at night.
President Bush and his three pets rushed down to PEOC, Laura couldn't even wear glasses.
Bush's aides, especially Vice President Dick Cheney, realized that PEOC was not well-prepared to operate in a crisis that was intensifying.
President Trump at the White House lawn on May 30 Photo: Reuters
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, PEOC was heavily upgraded with new communication systems and improved air systems, to ensure maintaining the President's communication with outside command and control networks.
US journalist Garrett Graff described in his book "Raven Rock" (about US government plans to cope with the catastrophic attack scenario) published in 2017 that PEOC has a large executive and communication room.
In 2010, a part of the North Lawn of the White House, adjacent to the West Wing, was dug up, barriers were erected around to shield a 4-year construction project worth $ 375 million.
However, the Public Service Agency, the project leader, rejected this information, saying it was simply a work to replace plumbing, electrical wiring, upgrade heating, air conditioning and
The decision to take Trump into the tunnel on May 29 was made when protesters confronted secret agents outside the White House for hours.
An unnamed executive source said First Lady Melania and the youngest Barron were also brought down with Trump.
