It does not say he was on his way to the White House; he could have been going anywhere. It says Chicago was a variation on the route he had planned, whatever that was. There was a "special" (unscheduled?) meeting in that city that he wanted to attend.
It means neither #1 or #2.
The President detoured to Chicago for a special meeting.
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What does the sentence above mean, #1 or #2? Is the special meeting in Chicago or anywhere else?
1. The President visited Chicago on the way to the White House to have a special meeting there (in Chicageo).
2. The President had to go to a place to have a special meeting, but becuse of traffic jam he had to go around to Chicago. He had to pass through Chicago to go to the place where meeting will be held.
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