Biden says he hopes Trump has a ‘reckoning’ and paints bleak picture of ‘mainstream media’ during Thanksgiving visit

President Joe Biden urged Donald Trump to reconsider his tariff war with Canada and Mexico, raised concerns about the state of the mainstream media and offered up what he was grateful for during a visit with firefighters on Thursday.

The president kicked off his Thanksgiving holiday by delivering pumpkin pies to Nantucket firefighters. He was accompanied by first lady Jill Biden and their grandson Baby Beau.

He paused to answer questions from reporters, reflect on the holidays and discuss his successor’s actions in the Oval Office.

He said he hopes Trump reconsiders his plan to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada, saying it could “ruin” relations with close allies.

‘I hope he thinks about it again. “I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do,” he said.

“We are surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and two allies: Mexico and Canada. The last thing we need to do is ruin those relationships.”

Trump threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico and China once he takes office in January, as part of efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs.

He said that as one of his first executive orders, he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico.

Trump said he would also seek to impose additional tariffs on China, an additional 10% on all tariffs until they prevent fentanyl from being shipped to the United States.

Canadian officials rejected Trump’s proposal, saying the country will have no choice but to retaliate.

And Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum fired back: “Seventy percent of the illegal weapons seized from criminals in Mexico come from your country.”

Biden said he thinks Chinese President Jinping Xi will be more moderate in his response. Chinese officials have said they do not want a trade war.

“We have reached a relationship with a status quo on China,” Biden noted. “We have set up a hotline between President Xi and myself, as well as an army – a direct line. One thing I’m sure about Xi is that he doesn’t want to make mistakes. I mean it sincerely.

Biden also said he thinks Trump will have an “internal reckoning” when it comes to some of his plans as president.

‘I want to ensure that this transition goes smoothly. I want to make sure it goes smoothly. All the talk about what (Trump) might or might not do — I think there might be an internal reckoning on his part… so it remains to be seen.”

Jill Biden and Baby Beau talk to firefighters on Nantucket

President Joe Biden talks to the press about what he is grateful for: “My family, the peaceful transition of the presidency, and I am grateful that by the grace of God we have been able to make more progress in the Middle East. “I am very grateful to have been able to bring about the first peace in Lebanon.”

And when asked about people concerned about the state of the country, Biden addressed the media: “When you turn on the television, you don’t see a lot of good news. Even if something is good news, it doesn’t seem to sell very well. When you turn on the TV, everything looks bad. An extremely small number of people who watch mainstream television and read newspapers.’

But he also offered what he was grateful for: “My family, the peaceful transition of the presidency, and I am grateful that by the grace of God we have been able to make more progress in the Middle East. capable of establishing the first peace in Lebanon.”

Biden announced a peace deal between Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday, shortly before leaving for his Thanksgiving break.

Before visiting the firefighters, the president and first lady called units from each branch of the military, stationed around the world, to thank them and their families for their service to the country.

This is Biden’s last Thanksgiving as president.

He and his family are on Nantucket, where they traditionally spend the Thanksgiving holiday.

Jill Biden told fire officials that the family is celebrating its 49th Thanksgiving on the island off the coast of Massachusetts.

“This is 49 years for us coming to Nantucket,” she said.

Baby Beau asked Nantucket Fire Chief Michael Cranson for an NFD hat for his father Hunter Biden. The chef obliged with two hats: one he presented to Beau and one to the president.

Biden removed his baseball cap with the president’s seal, handed it to Cranson and put on his NFD hat.

“It’s a union hat,” Cranson told him.

“I’m a union guy,” Biden responded.

Baby Beau asked Nantucket Fire Chief Michael Cranson for an NFD hat

President Joe Biden brought pumpkin pies to firefighters

The first family spent about 20 minutes talking to the firefighter before heading to their Thanksgiving residence for their own dinner. Hunter Biden and his wife Melissa joined the Bidens over the holidays, although they didn’t come to the firehouse.

Ashley Biden, the Bidens’ daughter, is also on the island. She and Jill Biden went shopping in downtown Nantucket on Wednesday.

The Bidens stay at the luxurious $34 million complex owned by billionaire businessman turned philanthropist David Rubenstein.

The 13-acre property features a 13,000-square-foot home, private beach and private dock.

It is a sprawling property on the island’s secluded inner harbor, with beautiful views of the water as the sun sets in the background.

Rubenstein bought the waterfront property in 2000 for his now ex-wife Alice and their three children. He demolished the existing house and built a 13,000-square-foot home with a tennis court, pool, hot tub and private dock.

Zillow estimates it would cost $30,000 per month to rent.

The Bidens have been going to Nantucket for 49 years, dating back to when Biden was a U.S. senator.

In his 2017 memoir “Promise me Dad,” Biden wrote that Thanksgiving in 1975 was the first holiday he and his now-wife Jill spent together, taking his young sons Beau and Hunter to Nantucket for some bonding time .

Since then, they have rarely missed a vacation on Nantucket.

One of the few Thanksgivings the Bidens missed there was in 2015, which occurred about six months after Beau Biden’s death.

The family went to Rome instead. They also skipped the trip in 2020 due to the pandemic.