to duck out to do something
Solution 1:
The reason this works is because ducked out here means snuck out:
So when Mr. Trump snuck out to dinner Tuesday night without informing the journalists assigned to cover him. . . .
Both convey eluding some obligation, responsibility, or constraint.
The OED lists these pertinent subsenses for the verb duck:
2b. To back out, withdraw, make off, abscond; default. (orig. U.S.).
2c. trans. to get away from, to avoid, dodge (a person or thing). colloq. (orig. U.S.).