A military helicopter carrying Donald Trump took off from the White House on Tuesday afternoon despite commercial flights continuing at a nearby airport, against safety protocols. The helicopter took off without air traffic controllers pausing flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, people familiar with the matter told the paper. The northern edge of the Arlington, Virginia airport’s main runway is less than four miles from the White House. White House spokesperson Kush Desai told the paper, “Marine One flights are piloted by some of the best aviators in the world, and at no point was the President in harm’s way.” The Daily Beast has contacted the FAA and the White House for comment.