Biden heads to St. Croix for remaining vacation as president

President Biden and his household are heading to St. Croix within the U.S. Virgin Islands for a remaining vacation earlier than he leaves the White Home subsequent month. 

The journey has turn into an annual one for the Bidens, who up to now have stayed at a rich donor’s residence on the island. It is the third yr in a row the president and his household have traveled to St. Croix for the New 12 months’s vacation. Final yr in St. Croix, Mr. Biden mentioned his New 12 months’s decision was “to come back again subsequent yr.” 

The president didn’t converse to reporters Thursday earlier than boarding Air Drive One. Mr. Biden and his household often largely keep out of public view throughout these holidays. A number of relations are anticipated to hitch the president and first girl Jill Biden on the journey. 

The island, an American territory, is 84 sq. miles, with a inhabitants of about 41,000 folks. Highs are anticipated to be within the 70s and 80s in the course of the president’s journey. The Bidens arrived on Thursday afternoon round 1 p.m. ET, or 2 p.m. native time. 

Whereas that is his remaining vacation as president, Mr. Biden is anticipated to go to Rome in January and meet with Pope Francis. 

Earlier this week, Mr. Biden vetoed a once-bipartisan effort so as to add 66 federal district judgeships, saying the Home’s “hurried motion” left unanswered questions. On Christmas Eve, he signed 50 payments handed by Congress.

When the president returns to Washington within the new yr, he may have mere days earlier than President-elect Donald Trump takes his place on Jan. 20. 

White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned final week that Mr. Biden’s objectives earlier than leaving workplace embrace additional implementing the bipartisan infrastructure legislation and the CHIPS and Science Act, in addition to reducing the price of prescribed drugs. 

“That is our focus,” Jean-Pierre mentioned. “That is what we have been doing. And — and we will proceed — proceed, actually, to try this.”