Presidential mobility and the Secret Service

Factual Questions
1

Is the President able to move around when and where he wants or is it possible for the Secret Service to tell him no.

For instance, say he decides right this minute that he’s tired of people making fun of him for not being at Johannesburg and wants to fly down there immediately if not sooner.

Can the Secret Service say, “Nope.” and prevent him from going because they don’t have a security plan in place? Can the President overrule them and simply say, “Try to stop me.” then proceed to thumb his nose? Is there any info on this or is it one of those little details that the government likes to keep hushed? I look to the collective knowledge of the smartest people in the universe for an answer :wink:

2

I think that except in cases where a threat is known or expected (and you can argue about whether 9/11 qualifies), the President can tell the Secret Service that he wants to go someplace and they have to make it happen. That’s their job.

However, I would think that any such regulations regarding Presidential movement are probably not allowed out to the general public.