President Barack Obama has cut short an official visit to India, skipping a trip to the famed Taj Mahal in order to fly to Saudi Arabia and pay his respects to the royal family after the death of King Abdullah.
The president had been due to visit the iconic Indian mausoleum with First Lady Michelle Obama at the conclusion of his three-day visit to India, where he is the guest of honor at the country's Republic Day celebrations.
However, the pair will now travel to Riyadh on Tuesday "to pay respects to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the family of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest announced.
Security had been high at the Taj Mahal ahead of the president's planned visit.
The presidential delegation took off for India on Air Force One early Saturday morning, leaving behind Vice President Joe Biden, who had been scheduled to lead a delegation to Saudi Arabia.
A number of world leaders have been flying to Saudi Arabia to pay their respects to the late King, who died Friday.
In keeping with local religious traditions, King Abdullah was buried in an unmarked grave in the Saudi capital on Friday after a short illness.
