The president will skip a planned visit to the Taj Mahal in order to meet the new Saudi king.
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.
Indian security personnel patrol at the historic Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra on January 21, 2015.
REUTERS/Brijesh Singh
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.
Jim Bourg / Reuters
A number of world leaders have been flying to Saudi Arabia to pay their respects to the late King, who died Friday.
President Barack Obama pictured meeting with King Abdullah at the White House on June 29, 2010.
Larry Downing / Reuters
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