Waylaid American president with Edward (8)
I believe the answer is:
ambushed
'waylaid' is the definition.
('ambush' can be a synonym of 'waylay')
'american president with edward' is the wordplay.
'american' becomes 'am' (abbreviation in some contexts).
'president' becomes 'bush' (two US presidents have been called Bush).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'edward' becomes 'ed'.
'am'+'bush'+'ed'='AMBUSHED'
(Other definitions for ambushed that I've seen before include "Taken by surprise in war" , "Attacked (someone) from concealment" , "surprised?)" , "taken, surprisingly" , "Lay in wait and waylaid" .)