Last weekend, Joe Biden was not at the White House in Washington; he was at his home in Delaware. This is as surprising as saying Nancy Pelosi did not spend last weekend campaigning for Republican Congressional candidates.
Biden is usually away from Washington on the weekends; instead, he prefers chilling with Commander, his dog, Willow, his cat, and his wife, Jill, in the Philly suburbs.
Less than two years into his presidency, Biden has made trips to Delaware, spending roughly 174 days away from the White House. CNN analyzed his schedule and discovered that Biden has also made an additional 19 runs to Camp David, the presidential retreat every President has access to in Maryland. He’s spent at least 64 days there.
If you recall, when President Trump was in office from 2016 – 2020, media outlets had a field day reporting on his frequent trips to New York, New Jersey, or Florida, but Biden has surpassed Trump’s entire amount of traveling in 21 months. During Trump’s four years, he only spent 23 days at Camp David.
Here’s what the White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told CNN about Biden’s frequent flyer status.
“President Biden is deeply proud of his roots and his family, and it has been a staple of his time in public life to never lose touch with either. Presidents of the United States are constantly on the job, regardless of their location — whether they’re on a state visit overseas or just 100 miles from the White House for a short trip to Wilmington, DE. And as all Americans can agree, it’s important for leaders to avoid becoming ensconced in Washington, DC.”
Biden has been taking a federal paycheck for over 50 years, serving as a Senator for decades before becoming Vice President and then the President of the United States. Here’s what Michael LaPosa, Jill Biden’s former press secretary, told CNN.
“He spent (practically) every weekend in Delaware during his 36 years in the Senate and his eight years as vice president; this is nothing new. The Biden’s have never lived in Washington, DC.”
For each president’s trip away from the White House, Secret Service has to coordinate with law enforcement. Highway exits must be closed so that the presidential motorcade can roll through.
Another issue for the support staff is that the Biden’s want their pets around them at all times, according to reports. They take the weekend getaways, too, often traveling to Delaware by van.
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