NANCUCKET: Joe Biden’s last Thanksgiving vacation as president is being celebrated on Nantucket, a custom that this year seems to be a part of a larger bid to bid him farewell.
The Democrat’s four times as president may be bookended by Republican Donald Trump, whose Cabinet votes, tax threats and glamorous evenings at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida team, have captured the public’s focus since the November election. In July, Biden disqualified from the race for senator and was replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump.
The 82-year-old Biden was still wrestling with questions about his legacy while spending five nights on the Massachusetts island, which has lovely wood tile houses and sea-shelled beaches. He made a late-night return to Washington on Saturday, and he will make his first trip to Africa as president to Angola the following morning.
As Biden and his household walked along the opulent brick pavements and stone streets that have made Nantucket a powerful and attractive summer vacation destination, residents yelled,” We love you, Joe.” The Biden force included the mayor’s daughter, Ashley, and boy, Hunter, as well as Hunter’s 4-year-old child, Beau.
Over the past month, Biden has called Trump’s untruths about the president’s hurricane relief “un-American” and frequently warned that the incoming president may undermine U. S. politics and international relationships.
However, Biden responded to reporters ‘ questions on Thanksgiving Day by saying,” I’m thankful for a peaceful transition of the presidency.”
Biden added that he was appreciative of his home, the fresh Lebanoni cease-fire, and the possibility of even greater Middle East peace. The senator, who has mostly avoided reporters ‘ issues recently, engaged on a number of things related to Trump and plan.
He suggested that as Trump “pushes his agenda,” Republicans will have to accept” some real compromise” given their “razor-thin” power margins in the upcoming Congress.
” I think there may be a little bit of internal reckoning”, Biden said.
Biden also said he hoped Trump would “rethink” his tariff threats against Mexico and Canada, leading American trading partners.
” We’re surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and two allies: Mexico and Canada”, Biden said. The last thing we need to do is begin torment those relationships, she said. I think we’ve got them in a good place”.
Trump had earlier pledged to impose 25 % tariffs on both nations until they stopped illegal immigration and halted the flow of drugs across their borders with the United States on his social media platform Truth Social. Trump was contacted by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum via phone and met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Florida on Friday.
Sheinbaum disputed Trump’s claim in a post that the tariffs would be avoided even though she expressed confidence in the statement. Mexico has already taken steps to address the concerns raised by Trump, which was also raised by Biden.
Trump did n’t promise to avoid tariffs when Trudeau left Florida on Saturday. Trump called the meeting “productive”.
Trump has threatened to impose an additional 10 % tariff on China if it does n’t stop exporting the ingredients used to produce fentanyl.
Biden claimed that Xi Jinping, the president of China, understood the importance of avoiding any problems in relations with the US.
” The one thing I’m confident about Xi is he does n’t want to make a mistake”, Biden said. ” And I’m not saying that he is our best buddy, but he– he understands what’s at stake”.
On Thanksgiving Day, Biden went to a fire station to deliver pumpkin pies with his wife, Jill, and grandson Beau. The first lady explained to firefighters and police that the family has been visiting Nantucket for Thanksgiving since 1975, a nod to her significant contribution to the tradition.
The Bidens received two baseball caps from the firefighters.
The president put his on and asked his grandson,” What do you think”?
” It looks good”, said the grandson, who demurred when the president asked him if he would like to be a firefighter.
The Biden family visited Nantucket Bookworks, an art gallery, and a number of other places on Friday for lunch before heading home for lunch at the Brotherhood of Thieves restaurant. As crowds captured images and videos of a smiling Biden, the ceremonial Christmas tree lighting and carols came to an end.
As a break from some family turmoil, this year’s holiday might have a special emotional resonance.
Hunter Biden is scheduled to be sentenced to three felonies in December for purchasing a gun in 2018 after lying on a federal form and claiming he was n’t using or dependent on drugs illegally. He also faces federal tax penalties in California in December for the offenses he entered into in September.
The president has previously stated that he would not commute or pardon his son’s death sentence.
