Despite dubbing the impending midterm elections “the most consequential election in our history,” President Joe Biden is expected to leave Friday for a long holiday weekend in Delaware, giving him a four-day work week.
According to CNN, the president will take a three-day vacation after spending the weekend of October 15-16 in Delaware, as he has been away from the White House for over one-quarter of his presidency.
According to the site, Biden has stayed 174 days in Delaware and 64 days visiting Camp David as of October 16, exceeding previous Pres. Donald Trump’s total of 158 days spent away from the White House during the same period in his term.
When questioned why the president is vacationing so near the midterm elections, White House Press Sec. Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden takes the midterms “extremely seriously” and has “been around.”
“He’s been there. He recently traveled to Colorado. He recently went to California. He recently visited Portland. We’re heading to Pennsylvania. We’re heading to Florida. And we’ll have much more to share,” Jean-Pierre stated during a press conference on Monday.
Some have questioned why the president spends so much time away from public view, citing the Secret Service’s claim that there is no visitor log of who has visited with Biden in his private residence. In an interview with the NY Post, Republican Kentucky Rep. James Comer, who is slated to head the House Oversight Board if Republicans control the House, urged the Biden administration to reveal the visitor records.
“Americans want to know who President Biden is engaging with, especially given we know he met with [first son] Hunter’s business contacts on a regular basis while he was vice president,” Comer told the publication.
“President Biden is profoundly proud of his heritage and his family, and it has been a hallmark of his tenure in public life to never lose contact with either,” White House Deputy Communications Director Andrew Bates told CNN.
“Whether on a state visit abroad or just a hundred miles from the White House for a quick trip to Wilmington, DE, Presidents of the United States are continually on the job. And, as many Americans believe, leaders must avoid getting rooted in Washington, D.C.,” Bates added.
