Rome Shines During Presidential Visit

Community cooperation and public safety efforts impress Secret Service during Trump's latest stop in Georgia

Feb. 20, 2026 at 9:50pm

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After a week of preparation, the city of Rome and Floyd County, Georgia pulled off a successful visit from President Trump, with public safety and public works employees working together seamlessly to ensure the event went off without a hitch. Local officials praised the professionalism and training of the police forces, with a Secret Service agent remarking that they were "absolutely amazing to work with" compared to other places the president has visited.

Why it matters

The president's visit to the region highlights the importance of Rome's regional airport as a key asset, as well as the city and county's ability to host high-profile events requiring extensive security and coordination. The successful execution of the visit also showcases the strong cooperation between local government agencies and departments.

The details

Hundreds of public safety employees from the Rome and Floyd County police departments, the Floyd County Sheriff's office, as well as public works and fire department staff, worked together to prepare for and execute the president's visit. They deployed traffic barriers, managed road closures, and provided a "steady presence" that gave the community "peace of mind" during the event. A Secret Service agent praised the high level of training and professionalism of the local law enforcement, noting they "did exactly what we needed them to do" with no problems.

  • The president visited Rome, Georgia on February 19, 2026.
  • Public safety and public works employees were out early on the day of the visit, preparing the city for the president's arrival.

The players

Sammy Rich

The Rome City Manager, who said "Rome shone yesterday" and praised the community's teamwork in pulling off the successful visit.

Rhonda Wallace

The Floyd County Commission Chair, who heaped praise on city and county public safety and public works employees for their "incredible job" and "countless hours of behind-the-scenes planning" that went into the president's visit.

Jim Bojo

The Mayor of Rome, who relayed a conversation he had with a Secret Service agent who was impressed with the training and professionalism of the local police forces.

Jamie McCord

The Floyd County Manager, who thanked public safety and public works and said the region's top-notch airport is a key reason the president has visited three times.

John Carroll

The Richard B. Russell Regional Airport Manager, who said hosting Air Force One was an "honor" and that the airport's operations went smoothly during the visit.

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What they’re saying

“Rome shone yesterday. I'm so proud of the community for pulling itself together like that. It was a real team effort.”

— Sammy Rich, Rome City Manager

“There were countless hours of behind-the-scenes planning that went into the president's visit. Everyone did an incredible job; they are a credit to their profession.”

— Rhonda Wallace, Floyd County Commission Chair

“The Secret Service agent said our police forces were absolutely amazing to work with. They travel all over the country, and very often local police are challenging to work with, maybe not as polished.”

— Jim Bojo, Rome Mayor

“From zero to 18,000 feet, nothing was allowed to be in the air for 30 miles around the president. But our pilots were warned, and we had no problems.”

— John Carroll, Richard B. Russell Regional Airport Manager

What’s next

The city and county plan to continue working closely with federal agencies to ensure they are prepared to host high-profile events and visits in the future.

The takeaway

The successful coordination and execution of the president's visit to Rome and Floyd County demonstrates the community's ability to come together and showcase its public safety capabilities, regional assets like the airport, and strong intergovernmental cooperation - all of which can serve the region well for future economic development and tourism opportunities.