President Joe Biden’s last free vacation in office has sparked outrage as he prepares to leave the White House as an unpopular and diminished statesman.
The outgoing commander-in-chief, 82, arrived Thursday in the Caribbean resort of Saint Croix – part of the US Virgin Islands – for a final vacation before he prepares to leave office.
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Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley were filmed disembarking Air Force One for a sunny post-Christmas getaway.
From the small airport they were whisked away in a presidential procession to the beachfront villa of Bill and Connie Neville, two wealthy business executives and prominent Democratic donors.
Biden previously spent New Year’s Day at the couple’s Caribbean home in 2023 and also hosted a state dinner in 2022.
Wearing a black baseball cap, the outgoing president appeared serious as he headed to his waiting car.
The Nevilles run the American Viking software company, which makes an online content platform called ENPS, marketed by The Associated Press and used by several news media.
It’s Biden’s latest stay with wealthy backers amid accusations of ethics violations.
The Bidens are said to have previously asked Maria Allwin, the widow of a prominent hedge fund manager, if they could use her vacation home on Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
Biden also spent four Thanksgiving weeks at billionaire private equity titan David Rubenstein’s compound in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
In September, President Biden spoke at a luncheon hosted by Rubenstein in Washington.
The month before, Biden’s family spent five days for free at medical technology billionaire Joe Kiani’s sprawling California ranch.
Kiani has received significant government contracts during the Biden administration and has been appointed to an advisory board by the president.
Both measures have sparked outrage among Republicans.
Biden has also been criticized for dodging media and opposition scrutiny as he ends his 50-year political career.
“He’s been gone for a long time,” Republican strategist Doug Heye told The Hill.
“We watched him go to Africa, didn’t answer questions in public and were largely shielded from the press.”
Democrats have also expressed frustration as Biden’s term appears to be ending with a whimper.
“There is such great disappointment with the way this presidency is ending,” said one Democratic lobbyist.
“It almost feels like a layoff at this point.”
Instead, Trump has been able to dominate media attention through a series of colorful Cabinet officials and some high-profile public appearances.
With Biden’s legacy seemingly forever tarnished, attention has shifted to Trump, who is making presidential statements weeks before taking office.
