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There is no protocol that requires the president, the first lady, or other members of the White House to salute, either when disembarking from a Marine One helicopter or elsewhere.
Brian Adam Jones, a former marine correspondent and co-founder of the military veteran forum Task & Purpose, wrote in 2014 that there is no regulation stipulating that presidents must salute.
“In fact, for the first 192 years of our republic, it didn't happen," Jones wrote.
"None of the first 38 commanders in chief did it. And some of those dudes had some serious military experience. Eisenhower? Grant? I mean, Teddy Roosevelt was a war hero.
"Surely he felt compelled to click his heels together and cut a perfect knife-handed salute when he passed a uniform service member, right? Wrong."
Ronald Reagan (the former president in movie actor) started the practice, but wondered if it were appropriate or not. So he asked the commandant of the United States Marine Corps and get his advice, and the commandant's advice ran something like this: You're the goddamn president. You can salute whoever you goddamn well please.
