Biden thanks billionaire friends for St Croix stay as he jets back to Washington trends now
President Joe Biden bid farewell to his Democratic donor friends Bill and Connie Nelson as he returned to Washington D.C. following a low-profile seven-day vacation at their beachfront villa in St Croix.
The 80-year-old didn't take questions from reporters as he boarded Air Force One with First Lady Jill and 18-year-old grandaughter Natalie after a low-key week spent mostly in the luxury three-bedroom property with a private pool.
As he approached the plane's steps he stopped to speak to the Nelsons to mark the end of the trip where rare public sightings included a round of golf with grandson Hunter, dinner at a local restaurant and a church service.
Biden returns to Washington after keeping a low-profile in the Caribbean with new challenges ahead of him - with the Republicans set to take control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
House Republicans have threatened a litany of investigations, including into Biden's son Hunter's foreign business dealings.
President Joe Biden and his family departed St. Croix Monday afternoon, after a seven-day trip to the U.S. Virgin Island for the New Year's holiday in the home of their billionaire Democratic donor friends
Thanks for having us: Biden speaks to Bill and Connie, the Democratic donor couple whose St Croix villa he stayed in for seven days with members of the first family
Thanks to better than expected midterm results for the Democrats, the GOP will have just a small House majority, while Democrats maintain control of the Senate, even flipping a formerly held Republican seat in Pennsylvania.
The Bidens kept a low-profile during their time on the island, with the president stepping out for church Sunday. The president and his grandson Hunter golfed Friday and then were joined by first lady Jill Biden and granddaughter Natalie for dinner in downtown Christiansted Friday night.
Daughter Ashley and her husband Howard Krein are also spending the New Year's holiday on St. Croix, a place the Bidens have frequented for years.
This is, however, Biden's first trip to the U.S. territory as president.
The president and first lady woke up at 6:30 a.m. on New Year's Day, spending the first moments of 2023 watching th sunrise from the private beach at their luxury St. Croix villa, White House officials said Sunday.
In the past, the Bidens have joined island residents and tourists to take in the first sunrise of the new year at Point Udall, considered the easternmost point in the United States.
Jill thanks personnel on the tarmac before boarding Air Force One back to mainland U.S.
Biden, wearing his trademark aviators, salutes before ducking into Air Force One for the journey back to Washington D.C.
Biden returns to Washington after keeping a low-profile in the Caribbean with new challenges ahead of him - with the Republicans set to take control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday
President Joe Biden gets into his SUV as he departs mass on New Year's Day. Asked if he had made any new year's resolutions, he said 'good year, next year' and said he was 'looking forward to it'
The Bidens stayed in a luxury villa in the Solitude Bay section of St. Croix, with the president and first lady watching the sunrise from their private beach Sunday morning
A Secret Service agent stands guard outside the church where President Joe Biden attended mass on New Year's Day in downtown Christiansted on St. Croix
The president then headed to church solo, where he could be seen taking communion through the historic church's large, open windows, accounting for the nearly 80-degree temperatures.
Holy Cross Catholic Church dates back to 1755, but was extensively renovated in the 1950s, according to a website documenting St. Croix landmarks.
Asked if he had made any new year's resolutions, he said 'good year, next year' and said he was 'looking forward to it,' giving reporters a thumbs up as he exited the cream and white church and got into his black SUV.
On Friday night, he wouldn't say if he's made a decision to run for reelection as he departed a restaurant with his family in downtown Christiansted on St. Croix.
'There's an election coming up?' Biden said to questions about 2024 as he departed Savant, one of the top-rated restaurants on the tropical island. '2023 is going to be a good year,' the president added.
He dined with first lady Jill Biden and grandchildren Hunter, 16, and Natalie, 18, the children of his late son, Beau Biden.
President Joe Biden wouldn't say if he's made a decision to run for reelection as he departed a restaurant Friday night with his family in downtown Christiansted on St. Croix
Granddaughter Natalie Biden (left), 18, holds hands with first lady Jill Biden (right) as they leave the restaurant Savant Friday night
First lady Jill Biden, wearing a bold blue dress, holds hands with granddaughter Natalie as the family departed Savant, a highly rated restaurant in downtown Christiansted on St. Croix
Dr. Jill Biden waves at reporters as she leaves Savant on St. Croix Friday night. She said dinner out in downtown Christiansted was 'great'
President Joe Biden also told reporters that '2023 is going to be a good year' before getting in his black SUV and motorcading back to the luxury villa the family is borrowing from a Democratic donor
The president said it was nice to have his grandkids, his daughter and 'the whole dang family' around - as they stay