Joe Biden WILL go to Queen’s funeral, but hasn’t called King Charles
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Joe Biden has revealed he hasn’t touched base with King Charles III yet but will travel to London for the Queen’s funeral.
The President said he has not called him or spoken to him as he answered media questions during a trip to Ohio.
But earlier sources confirmed he would be heading to Britain to attend Her Majesty’s funeral, but details were being withheld until Buckingham Palace was ready.
On Thursday night, DailyMail.com broke the news that Biden would likely attend.
President Joe Biden revealed that he hasn’t touched base with King Charles III yet, but confirmed he will travel to London for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral when talking to reporters as he left Ohio Friday afternoon
‘I know him. I haven’t spoken to him. I did not call him yet,’ President Joe Biden (right) said when asked if he touched base with King Charles III (left). The two men were photographed together at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland last November
President Joe Biden told DailyMail.com that ‘yes, probably,’ he’d attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral as he departed a Democratic National Committee event Thursday night
President Joe Biden and the first lady made an unannounced visit to the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Thursday evening, hours after the Queen’s death was announced
Biden signed the book of condolence, flanked by Dame Karen Pierce, British ambassador to the U.S., and the first lady. ‘We’re so delighted to get to meet her,’ he said afterwards
The president revealed the latest update as he stepped off his plane during a trip to Columbus for a speech on semiconductors.
He said of King Charles: ‘I know him. I haven’t spoken to him. I did not call him yet,’ Biden said when asked if he touched base with the new King.’
He continued: ‘Yes. I don’t know what the details are yet but I’ll be going.
Asked by DailyMail.com last night if he would go during a Democratic National Committee event in Oxon Hill, Maryland, he said: ‘Yes, probably.’
On board Air Force One Friday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wouldn’t confirm the trip or divulge any details.
‘One of the things we want to be mindful of, as you all know, there’s a process, there’s a phone call here, official protocol, in which leaders are invited. So we are not going to get ahead of that protocol,’ Jean-Pierre said.
When a reporter pointed the press secretary to Biden’s remarks, Jean-Pierre repeated that the White House wanted to be mindful of protocol.
‘I’ll let the president’s statement stand for itself,’ she added.
The Bidens put their name to a message praising the way Elizabeth ‘led with enduring strength and dignity,’ before heading on to a political event
The White House said President Joe Biden had met the Queen three times, most recently for tea with first lady Jilly Biden at Windsor Castle in 2021, where they inspected a guard of honor
Biden paid tribute to the Queen after her death was announced on Thursday, saying: ‘In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons including many who have never known their country without her’
The president issued a proclamation on Thursday afternoon, paying tribute to the Queen and ordering the US flag to be flown at half staff at the White House and other public buildings
On Thursday, Biden twice paid homage to the Queen – first stopping at the British embassy in Washington to sign a book of condolence, hours after Buckingham Palace announced the death of the long-serving British monarch.
‘We mourn for all of you,’ he said, accompanied by first lady Jill Biden.
‘She was a great lady. We’re so delighted to get to meet her,’ the president added.
Later, he opened up his remarks at the DNC summer meeting by speaking about the Queen.
‘I had the opportunity to meet her before she passed and she was an incredibly decent and gracious woman,’ Biden said. ‘And the thoughts and prayers of the American people are with the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in their grief.’
He spoke to DailyMail.com after nearly an hour of chatting with DNC members and taking selfies.
Earlier in the day he issued a proclamation ordering the flags to be flown at half-staff at the White House and other federal buildings.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did the same for the flags that fly over Congress.