[seanf]

The ruling group includes some members of Congress and the executive branch. Current and former presidents and vice-presidents are not screened, nor are cabinet secretaries or members of Congress with security details at US airports. Not sure how the US president is treated when passing through other nations' borders but I'm guessing it is not the same border experience that everyone else goes through.

According to the "Port Courtesy Handbook" it sounds like many foreign dignitaries go through a modified and expedited border check at the US border that the rest of us do not use. "A Port Courtesy or “Courtesy of the Port” provides Foreign Government Officials and their traveling parties expedited processing and clearance upon arrival into the United States. Requests for Port Courtesies are managed by the Office of the Chief of Protocol in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)." https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/170352.pdf