On Friday, President Biden was just plain Joe, strolling the streets of Nantucket, talking with residents, and watching the lighting ceremony for the Christmas Tree.
He was instead surrounded with Secret Service staff and White House personnel, along with members of the media. The Beast was pushed down the street by agents as he moved.
It was difficult to miss him – there were a lot of vehicles and people surrounding him while he walked. Biden took his route and it was chaos. Everyone raced for the next one, while locals came together to watch. It was push, shovel and holiday cheer.
Despite all the turmoil, people seemed to be thrilled to get a glimpse at the president.
Biden seemed just as content to be out as ever, even though he was separated from the crowd by a yellow line of police officers and row of Secret Service agents.
A man told him, “You look older in real life,”
The president was greeted by a little girl dressed in pink, who sat down on his shoulders.
Other shouted: We love Joe’, Hey, President’, and, of course, ‘Happy Turkey Day.’ Nearly everybody had their phones out and took photos of the moment to preserve them for posterity.
Two of Joe Biden’s grandchildren and President Joe Biden walked Nantucket streets on Friday, to shop
During his trip around Nantucket, Biden waved to the crowds
Jill Biden, first lady and President Joe Biden are pictured with their family members during the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony
Mama Melissa is standing beside baby Beau Biden, who’s on the shoulders of Hunter Biden.
While President Joe Biden’s grand-daughter Maisy Biden holds Beau Jr., the president and his family attend a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony
Biden ate lunch at Nantucket Tap Room, where he took photos and had a burger.
The president broke free from the bubble of the presidential motorcade after a post-Thanksgiving lunch with his family.
Biden moved toward the presidential limousine, the Beast. As agents guided him, he ducked off the curb and continued walking towards some shops. Biden’s family has been visiting Nantucket since the mid 1970s, including as vice president.
As staff and media tried to keep up with the pace, the agents quickly cleared the crowd of people who had gathered to watch the motorcade depart.
The president didn’t let the rain stop him. With an umbrella and some Biden grandchildren by his side, he walked along cobblestone streets, wearing a baseball cap, with his face covered. As they walked, Maisy Biden sometimes held on to his arm.
He stepped into Craftmasters of Nanucket, where he appeared to make a purchase, and then stepped out, moved to his left and down the block, pausing to stop for a selfie with a local who asked.
With his cell phone in hand, he waved at shopkeepers as if to ask what all the fuss was. He visited an array of shops – Gypsy, Sunken Ship, Island Cashmere, Centre Point and Freedman’s of Nantucket.
After making a loop around the shopping district, he stopped at the place where the Christmas Tree was waiting, still unlit.
Biden’s clan came together to light the Christmas tree. Baby Beau was carried from one family member to another. Maisy brought Beau close to look at the tree, while dad Hunter held on to him. Melissa took photos of him.
Biden was not present to light the tree. He stood by Jill, his wife and all of their families to observe the proceedings.
Biden’s grandkids were able to take selfies while they danced and sang along with local high school students singing Christmas carols.
Biden addresses the crowd.
Biden made some purchases in one of the shops
Many people came together to get a look at the president.
Bidens were present at the Nantucket Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Biden meets with the town crier. Next to him, Maisy Biden holds Baby Beauty.
As the tree was lit, the grandchildren of Bidens cheered.
The president is seen by a crowd as they gather on Nantucket’s street.
A number of locals shared their photos and descriptions of seeing the president.
Biden spent over an hour on the streets, visiting shops and taking pictures.
Biden was dressed in an umbrella while he walked around town wearing a baseball cap and a mask.
Biden spoke to the media about his decision not to travel to certain African countries because of COVID.
President Biden started his day taking his family to lunch at the Nantucket Tap Room, which serves traditional New England food and is located in a historic building from 1845 in downtown Nantucket.
The president was photographed taking selfies and shaking hands with his patrons inside. He had eaten a burger, according to a local reporter.
After the Bidens left Nantucket Bookworks where employees claimed the family was shopping for 35+ years, they stopped.
Jill Biden was there as was Hunter, Melissa, Ashley, Naomi, Finnegan, Maisy, Natalie, Hunter, and baby Beau Biden; and, Peter Neal, Naomi’s fiancé.
Biden families have a long-standing tradition of eating out every Friday following Thanksgiving.
The president headed to lunch after announcing his administration will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other countries starting on Monday, following the detection on a highly transmissible new variant of COVID discovered there.
According to the White House, those countries were Botswana (Zimbabwe), Lesotho(Eswatini), Mozambique and Malawi), which was announced Friday.
“We are going to be careful, ensure that there’s no travel from South Africa to six countries within the region. Only American citizens are allowed to return home, It is a very serious variant that we do not know much about. Biden stated that the variant seems to have spread quickly after he had finished his luncheon.
He encouraged all to become vaccinated.
Here’s the deal. All Americans should get vaccinated starting at age 5 years old. The booster shot is available to everyone who meets the eligibility criteria. It is something everyone must do. He said, “And you know, it is always about freedom, and I believe that this is a patriotic obligation.”
This follows travel bans in the UK and Europe that were similar to those imposed after detection of Omicron COVID. The World Health Organization declared it ‘highly transmissible and of great concern’.
Nantucket will see the Bidens from Sunday through.
The First Family celebrated Thanksgiving with a traditional menu on Thursday after watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and holding a virtual call with troops serving overseas.
They were served a Thanksgiving meal of thyme-roasted turkey with sides of ‘Grandmom Jacobs’ savory stuffing,’ classic turkey gravy, roasted kitchen garden fall vegetables; sweet potatoes, kale and button mushrooms, and cranberry relish, the White House said Thursday.
Jill has passed on her family’s recipe for savory stuffing to Grandmom Jacobs, which she shared with the community.
After dinner there were a range of desserts, such as apple pie, pumpkin, coconut cream pie, chocolate chip and ice cream. President Trump is known for his affinity with ice cream. In fact, he once revealed chocolate chip as his favorite flavor.
President Biden and Jill Biden hosted their daughter Ashley, Joe’s son Hunter and his wife Melissa, grandkids Beau Jr., Naomi, Finnegan and Maisy, Naomi’s fiancé Peter Neal, and Natalie and Hunter Jr. – Biden’s grandchildren from his deceased son Beau.
David Rubenstein’s $20 Million Retreat is where the family will be staying. This move has drawn ire from Americans who are often struggling to afford Thanksgiving dinners due to rising inflation.
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On Thursday, President Biden and First lady Jill Biden called in to talk to Al Roker on the Today program. Roker was reporting from the Macy’s Parade. According to the President, he said: “After two years, America is back. There’s nothing that we can overcome. Al, you are one reason for that. Your spirit is always positive and your heart is always in the right place. Jill is sporting $495 Chloe sneakers
Exclusive Photo of Joe and Jill Biden’s Thanksgiving Home
While visiting Brant Point, the US Coast Guard Station, President Biden spoke to troops around the globe via virtual call. The units they spoke to were Army: 194th Armored Regiment – Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Marine Corps: 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit – at sea on the Arabian Gulf Navy: USS Milius (DDG-69) – at sea on the East China Sea Air Force: 837th Training Squadron, Inter-American Air Forces Academy – Lackland Air Force Base, Texas Space Force: 18th Space Control Squadron – Vandenberg Space Force Base, California Coast Guard: Air Station Kodiak – Kodiak, Alaska
They were taken to US Coast Guard Station Brant Point, Nantucket. There they made virtual calls with soldiers around the globe and had a meeting with Coast Guard personnel.
The President Biden meets Coast Guard members at US Coast Guard Station Brant Point, Nantucket.
After meeting virtually with military personnel from all over the globe to express gratitude and wish them happy Thanksgiving, President Joe Biden handed a challenge coin at the United States Coast Guard Station Brant point in Nantucket (Mass.) on Thursday, November 25, 2021.
Jill Biden, the First Lady, waves as President Joe Biden drives to Brant Point, USA Coast Guard Station in Nantucket Mass. on Thursday November 25, 2021. Here they will be greeting Coast Guard members and having a virtual meeting from the United States Coast Guard Station. They’ll also thank service personnel from all over the globe for their service.
Jill and Joe were pictured snuggled in a living area on the compound, calling into the Today Show on NBC. The broadcast was from Manhattan’s Macy’s Parade. Al Roker interviewed them and they praised the American spirit for never giving up.
After that, the couple posted a deeply felt video to Twitter. They thanked troops for their service as well as commiserated with loved ones who lost them to COVID.
The Bidens then headed to the United States Coast Guard Station Brant Point on Nantucket where they had virtual calls with troops around the world, then President Biden spoke to some of those who were there in person.
The call is answered by the Bidens, who meet with approximately two dozen Coast Guard personnel stationed at base.
President gave out challenge coins, which were also given by his military aide.
Jill Biden made a joke about not having coins as she was just shaking hands with servicemen. Both of them spent several minutes talking with Coast Guard personnel and taking photos.
Biden expressed gratitude for service personnel and noted that he had met troops all over the globe in his forty-year career as a politician.
Naomi Biden, left, with her fiancé Peter Neal, right. They stop on Nantucket bikes for President Joe Biden’s and First Lady Jill Biden.
Naomi Biden, her new fiancé Peter Neal and their bikes were on one of the trails around the compound. This was just before Thanksgiving.
‘I’m not joking when I say I’m thankful for these guys – I’m thankful for them, and everybody, I mean it from the bottom of my heart,’ the president said when asked what he’s thankful for.
He said, “I have seen them in South China Sea. I have also watched them in Afghanistan and Iraq. They have been everywhere in South America.
“Look, and they will be there. This is what they see. They see us elsewhere. They can see them. This makes me proud,” he stated.
During their meeting with military personnel, the Bidens spoke to each of six branches of the military: Army, Marine Corps Navy, Air Force Space Force, Coast Guard and Air Force.
“As much as we should be thankful for the things we have, it is important to remember and keep close in touch those who were lost or who are sorely hurt. Then there are those with an empty chair at the table, whether it’s because of this accident or virus. They are our prayers,” the President stated.
He continued, “As we gather again, our tables are full of grace, and our hearts are full with gratitude for all who we love. As Commander in Chief, we’re especially thankful to our military personnel and their families for the sacrifices they have made for our country.”