- Biden consulted with security team over Christmas and ordered airstrike
- He returned to the White House on Tuesday with plans to leave on Wednesday.
- He should visit Sainte-Croix
President Joe Biden We returned from Camp David on Tuesday for a day at White Housewith plans to start a family vacation in the US Virgin Islands just a few hours away.
The president came from the presidential retreat to Maryland in a motorcade, after rain and fog prevented him from accessing the presidential helicopter and its quick ride. Reporters spotted him entering the White House after a 90-minute trip.
First lady Jill Biden lingered slightly, grabbing his coat in the presidential SUV that sometimes stands in for the presidential limousine, known as “the Beast.”
Because he did not fly to the South Lawn, reporters did not have the opportunity to question him upon his arrival about the domestic and international issues most likely to intrude on his planned getaway.
President Joe Biden returned to the White House on Tuesday after spending Christmas at Camp David.
His return came after his family getaway was cut short on Christmas day through urgent conversations with its security team.
Biden ordered retaliatory airstrikes against an Iranian-backed militia following an attack that injured three U.S. service members — one seriously — in a drone attack.
The Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia claimed responsibility for the attack. Biden was briefed by his security team, then ordered the Pentagon to provide options and directed the attack on three sites used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, according to National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson.
First lady Jill Biden returned with the president from the Camp David presidential retreat
The president spoke with members of his security team over Christmas after a drone attack on a US base in Iraq
President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden, right, walks with his son Beau Biden, his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, back left, and his sister Ashley Biden, center, to board Marine One before travel to Camp David on Saturday.
Israel’s war against Hamas was also on the White House agenda Tuesday, with Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken scheduled to meet with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs and former Israeli ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer.
It comes as public and political pressure increases on Israel to find ways to mitigate civilian deaths in its war against Hamas, and as Biden himself gets low approval ratings for his handling of the war.
Amid gloomy international news and political problems facing at home, Biden and the first lady are heading to tropical St. Croix on Wednesday, 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 unclear where they would stay, although last year the Bidens stayed in a luxury condo.
High temperatures on the island were expected to be in the 80s all week, although Washington, D.C., itself experienced unseasonably warm temperatures in the 40s and 50s this week.
