@KiaMorganSmith’s AMAZING #WHTweetup Trip! The Prime Minister Visits the US!

I don’t know how you sum up AMAZING.
It’s not something you can put in a bottle and place a cap on and call it a day.
On Wednesday March 14th, I had the opportunity and wonderful privilege to take a trip to the White House and attend the Arrival ceremony to welcome the British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha as an official White House #Tweetup Tweeter! How cool is that. I met dignitaries, and stood face to face and conversed with forward-thinking White House officials.
Although I support my President and his work, last Wednesday I truly felt like he cares about what the average person thinks and feels and what we say does matter. There’s no doubt that a mom of five like me can’t compete with billionaires and think-tankers who easily have his ear. But he doesn’t make us feel any less important, as evidenced by this White House #Tweetup.

So with that said, let’s take a picture-walk through my magnificent day at the historic White House!
My mom Janice Gullette Pugh and I got up at 5 a.m.and were ready to make HISTORY!! Whoo-hoo!

I arrived at the State Arrival Ceremony at 6:30 a.m and there was already a line of folks waiting!

By the way, a State Arrival Ceremony is a ceremony that takes place on the South Lawn of the White House, in which a foreign head of state or head of government is formally welcomed to the United States. The ceremony usually begins a state visit, and is the setting of the initial contact between the two heads of state during the visit. Our President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

 

 

I went through about a zillion Secret Service checks and made it in. Security is really REALLY tight. I’m so glad to know our President is protected to the utmost! And yes if you want to go to the White House you’ve got to give up your Social Security number and the whole nine. Background checks in full effect!
Stood outside until the break of dawn…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made it in.

 

Carol looks unassuming but she is as funny as Margaret Cho!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here they are! All hail the CHIEF!

 

 

 

The President started off my joking with the Prime Minister about the British trying to burn down the White House. The Prime Ministered countered and apologized with what his ancestors tried to do. It was such a jovial interaction, funny and friendly. The UK are our allies and it was great to see two leaders lead with such grace get along like old college buddies. It made me smile.

The ceremony ended quickly and went smoothly…

After the ceremony, my mom was standing proud in front of the White House!

My mom Janice and Joy’s mom.

After the arrival ceremony we headed to the Dwight D Eisenhower Executive Office building where the #WHTweetup continued.

The White House Administration officials spoke with us and told us about their work in social media and the many ways we can make a difference. The officials included Director of Communications Dan Pfeiffer, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese, Director of Digital Strategy Macon Phillips and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Jon Carson, as well as Deputy National Security Council Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden and Press Secretary for the British Embassy James Barbour. I love the fact that reaching the White House to get the message across is not impossible. Through petitions like We the People, being a champion for your cause and getting the attention of the White House is attainable if enough people stand with you and support you. I appreciate knowing that We can truly make a difference!

 

This was truly a fantastic experience and definitely a highlight in my life. Thank you to White House officials for inviting me to the White House for the official #WHTweetup. Thank you to Kori Schulman for such wonderful guidance and for making sure we were well informed and knew exactly where to go and what to do! Thank you to the White House for this opportunity to allow an everyday American mom and businesswoman like myself to embark on a once in a lifetime experience and share my experience with my readers and sponsors across the land.