Wednesday 14 September 2022 07:20 PM Biden was exercising his 'sacred' right when he flew to Delaware for ONE HOUR ... trends now
President Joe Biden was exercising his constitutional right when he flew on Air Force One to cast his ballot in Wilmington Tuesday, the White House said in response to questions about the expenditure of resources and jet fuel.
The president used the occasion to greet poll workers who have been 'under attack,' White House Press Secretary Karine-Jean Pierre told reporters on Wednesday.
She made both arguments in response to questions about Biden's trip, when asked why he didn't simply vote absentee or vote early in person when he was in Wilmington just last weekend.
'So every American, as you know, has a sacred and constitutional right to vote. The President exercised that right, alongside other Delawareans, last night,' she said aboard Air Force One en route to Detroit Wednesday.
'Look, as you know, the President has a very heavy schedule. He's the President of the United States. It worked out best for him to vote yesterday, to vote on Tuesday. He thought it was important to exercise his constitutional right to vote, as I just mentioned, and set an example by showing the importance of voting.'
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended President Joe Biden's decision to fly home to Delaware to cast his primary ballot on Tuesday
'He also had the opportunity to say hello to poll workers and thank them for their work. And we know how under attack poll workers have been these past several years,' she said, in a reference to protests and confrontations around polling locations amid fraud claims by allies of former President Donald Trump.
She said it was 'not unusual' to 'head home to vote in their local elections. And he thought it was important to do so yesterday.
She also was asked about the surprise nature of the journey, and why Biden didn't make more of a public show of the trip.
'Look, the President has been voting in Delaware for decades. And this is something that was important to do. He wasn't going to miss an opportunity to vote – to vote yesterday, and he did that. It is not unusual for him. He's done that, again, for many decades.
She said Biden wanted to thank poll workers (shown here in Boston). Biden did not stage any events timed with his trip, which had him on the ground for about an hour
President Joe Biden (right) holds the hand of first lady Jill Biden (left) as they showed up at the Tatnall School in Wilmington, Delaware to cast ballots in the state's primary. The White House fielded questions about why he didn't vote early or by mail
'I think by the President going to vote, that sends a very strong mesh- -- message to the American public,' she said.
Biden and first lady Jill Biden made an unannounced trip back to Wilmington Tuesday night to vote in the state's Democratic primary - where the only contested race involves a convicted criminal.
The Bidens showed up holding hands to the The Tatnall School to cast their ballots.
The White House didn't announce the Bidens were making the trek until after the motorcade pulled out of the South Lawn's driveway - as the area where Marine One takes off was still set-up for the earlier event
