For much of the early history of the United States, presidents rarely (if ever) ventured beyond the nation’s borders during their time in office. In an age when crossing the Atlantic took weeks and international diplomacy moved at the speed of handwritten letters, the idea of a sitting US president traveling abroad was unthinkable.
Indeed, early leaders like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson saw their duties as rooted firmly at home, handling global affairs through ambassadors and correspondence rather than personal presence. Foreign travel by presidents simply wasn’t part of the job description.
But for the past 125 years, almost every sitting US president has taken a trip abroad for a myriad of possible reasons. Whether it’s for diplomatic relations or for leisure, the first international voyage made during a president’s term certainly raises questions.
Intrigued? Click through this gallery to see where every president has traveled.