Biden rides into the sun: Joe wastes no time leaving Congress without hesitation to go on a week-long vacation to California with billionaire donor
President Joe Biden headed to California for a week-long vacation immediately after passing the torch to Kamala Harris in his swan song speech at the Democratic National Convention.
The 81-year-old will miss the rest of the festivities in Chicago, including the coronation of his vice presidential candidate, to spend time with his family, just weeks after dropping out of the race.
He and first lady Jill Biden delivered their farewell speech to Democrats, took a final bow amid cheers and whistles, and then left the arena.
The couple will travel directly to Santa Ynez, California, where a billionaire friend and donor owns an 8,000-acre estate. The Bidens, like most Americans, will watch the rest of the convention on television rather than in the spotlight.
Biden stressed during his tearful remarks that he is not “angry” about leaving office and is instead focused on his final five months in office and the end of his 53-year political career.
President Joe Biden and his family are traveling to California. According to local media, he will stay at the Kiani Preserve (pictured), a 20,000-acre ranch owned by billionaire Democratic donor Joe Kiani.
Spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre described the president on Monday as “in excellent spirits” and in “great mood.”
By the time the balloons fall on Harris on Thursday night, the Bidens will be long gone.
But they will stay in luxury.
The couple will reside on a 20,000-acre ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley owned by a Democratic donor and billionaire Joe Kiani, local media reported.
The estate is located approximately three hours north of Los Angeles, in the Santa Barbara wine region.
Kiani is a major Biden campaign donor and a family friend. Hunter Biden toured the $50 million vineyard property last year.
Nicknamed the ‘Kiani Reserve‘, the 8,000 hectares have their own private vineyard, donkeys and a herd of cattle.
The vineyard on the estate produces bottles of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, among others.
The estate has a vineyard that produces bottles of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, among other wines. Although President Joe Biden doesn’t drink alcohol, first lady Jill Biden is a wine lover
Biden speaks to the press before boarding Air Force One en route to California after his speech at the swan song conference
The Bidens will spend the week near Santa Barbara while the rest of the convention continues
Billionaire Democratic donor Joe Kiani poses with several horses at his Kiani Preserve near Santa Barbara, California. He said he built the estate “based on the fondest memories of his childhood”
The Kiani Preserve is an 8,000-acre ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley that spans the high hills and canyons nestled in the shadow of Figueroa Mountain. Hunter Biden spent time on the lavish property last year
The President doesn’t drink, but the First Lady enjoys a glass of wine.
The property consists of a main house and a guest house, both with a swimming pool and tennis courts.
“The story of Kiani Preserve was born from one man’s desire to create an ecosystem built from the fondest memories of his childhood and shaped by the perspectives and ideals he has acquired throughout his life,” boasts a website about the property. “A website that says ‘a love of nature and a desire to innovate don’t have to be in conflict.’”
“In fact, with planning, knowledge and love, they can be designed to feed each other,” it continues. “The result is a force of effortless beauty that will become not only a place to be enjoyed for generations; but a model of how we as a society can live, work, dine, thrive and grow without destroying the one thing we depend on as fuel to get there: The Land.”
Kiani has donated nearly $3 million to the president’s campaign, super PAC and inaugural committee.
Biden appointed him to his Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
The first couple arrived in Chicago Monday afternoon, along with grandchildren Natalie and Hunter, grandson Peter Neal and son-in-law Howard Krein.
The Bidens traditionally take various family members on vacation to St. Croix, Nantucket, Kiawah Island and Lake Tahoe.
He is expected to do the same for Santa Ynez.
In California he will “spend time with his family,” Jean-Pierre said.
This week’s trip marks the first time the first family has traveled to the Santa Barbara area. The White House has not yet released details.
In the past, the Bidens have also borrowed vacation homes from major donors.
In Nantucket, they stayed at a waterfront compound owned by David Rubenstein and valued at $34 million.
The posh island of Massachusetts is where the Bidens celebrate Thanksgiving.
On St. Croix, where the family likes to celebrate New Year’s, they stayed in a house owned by billionaire Democratic donors Bill and Connie Neville.
The Bidens are expected to remain in California through Sunday and completely miss the remainder of the Democratic National Party Convention, which ends Thursday.
The White House then announced that they will travel to a second vacation destination: their beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.