Family lunch, some shopping, a Christmas tree lighting: President Joe Biden’s day out in Nantucket
NANTUCKET, Mass. — It wasn’t all work and no play for President Joe Biden on this picturesque Massachusetts island Friday.
He spent much of the day in multiple briefings with national security officials, who briefed him on the release of the first phase of hostages in Gaza earlier Friday. Biden then made brief comments about the hostage deal, saying it’s “just a start, but so far it’s been going well.”
But then the president took part in the traditional Biden festivities the day after Thanksgiving: having lunch with his family, perusing local shops and mingling with the Nantucket crowds as the city’s Christmas tree is lit.
Due to the comments about hostages, the traditional family lunch took place later than usual. But as always, it was at Brotherhood of Thieves, a cozy bar and grill that advertises itself as an “1840s whale bar.”
Then the president’s shopping trip began.
His first stop was just a few doors down from the Nantucket Books restaurant, where first lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley were already browsing.
“I can’t come without going to the bookstore,” the president said as he ducked inside. “We have a tradition.”
He left about 20 minutes later with a copy of “Democracy Awakening” by historian Heather Cox Richardson, whom Biden interviewed at the White House last year.
Biden then stopped at Craftmasters of Nantucket, followed by a brief stop at the Jeweler’s Gallery. As he walked, he was greeted by cheering crowds, cries of “happy birthday” (the president celebrated his 81st birthday on Monday) and people waving and taking photos of the first family.
Eventually, the Bidens ended up at the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Nantucket, clapping as the town crier led the countdown and the tree was illuminated with colored lights.
Biden’s outing was interrupted twice by pro-Palestinian protesters: once earlier Friday as he walked to lunch and then again by a handful of protesters at the tree ceremony who had pushed their way to the front of the crowd. Leaning against metal barricades and waving banners reading “Free Palestine,” protesters chanted, “Biden, Biden, you can’t hide.” We accuse you of genocide!”
It was unclear whether the president – who greeted the members of the children’s choir – heard them. A local official urged protesters to stop, noting that the community event was not a political event.
Visiting Nantucket for Thanksgiving is a decades-long tradition for the Biden family.
Joe and Jill first vacationed here with their young sons, Beau and Hunter, in the mid-1970s. As they have done in recent years, the Bidens are staying at a sprawling complex owned by billionaire businessman and philanthropist David Rubenstein, according to the White House.