- Biden consulted with the security team over Christmas and ordered an airstrike
- He returned to the White House on Tuesday with plans to leave on Wednesday
- He's going to visit St. Croix
President Joe Biden returned from Camp David on Tuesday for a day at the White House, with plans to embark on a family vacation just hours away in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The president left the presidential retreat in Maryland by motorcade after rain and fog kept him out of the presidential helicopter and the quick commute. Reporters got only a glimpse of him entering the White House after the 90-minute journey.
First lady Jill Biden lingered for a moment, grabbing her coat from the presidential SUV that sometimes stands in for the presidential limousine known as “the Beast.”
Because he did not travel to the South Lawn by air, reporters did not have the opportunity to question him upon his arrival about the domestic and international issues most likely to affect his planned outing.
President Joe Biden returned to the White House on Tuesday after spending Christmas at Camp David
His return came after his Christmas Day family outing was interrupted by urgent calls with his security team.
Biden ordered retaliatory airstrikes against an Iran-backed militia after an attack that injured three U.S. service members — one seriously — in a drone strike.
The Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah claimed credit for the attack. Biden was briefed by his security team, then ordered the Pentagon to consider options and led the attack on three locations used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.
First lady Jill Biden rode with the president back from the presidential retreat at Camp David
The president spoke with members of his security team over Christmas following a drone strike on a US base in Iraq
President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, right, walks with his son Beau Biden, wife Melissa Cohen Biden, back left, and sister Ashley Biden, center, aboard Marine One before departing for Camp David on Saturday
Israel's war against Hamas was also on the agenda Tuesday at the White House, where Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were scheduled to meet with Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs and former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer.
That comes amid increasing public and political pressure on Israel to find ways to reduce civilian casualties in the war against Hamas, and Biden himself receiving low approval ratings for his handling of the war.
Amid the grim international news and political troubles at home, Biden and the first lady will depart Wednesday for tropical St. Croix, where they are expected to spend the new year.
Like the spaghetti and meatballs they share on Christmas Eve, the Virgin Islands getaway is a family tradition for the first couple. It was not known where they would stay, although the Bidens stayed in a luxury apartment last year.
High temperatures on the island were forecast to be in the low 80s all week, although Washington, D.C. itself experienced unseasonably warm temperatures in the high 40s and low 50s this week.