President Joe Biden and his family departed Washington on Wednesday for a week-long vacation on South Carolina’s Kiawah Island.
Biden’s convoy arrived at Joint Base Andrews, carrying first lady Jill Biden, son Hunter Biden and wife Melissa Cohen, and grandson Beau Biden.
The president was clutching the hand of his grandchild. As the president saluted, Baby Beau waved to the military greeting, and the first lady assisted him up the steps of Air Force One. The trip comes after the president tested negative for COVID this weekend, allowing him to be released from isolation and reunited with his wife after almost three weeks apart due to his ailment.
Biden’s doctor has cleared him to go, although he still has a post-COVID cough.
The Bidens had been to Kiawah numerous times previously, including four times as vice president, but this is his first visit since becoming office.
The White House has not said how long the Bidens will stay on the private island, although FAA aviation restrictions are in effect until Tuesday. When a president visits a region, these limitations are usual operational practice.
It’s also unknown where Biden is living on the island.
A luxurious hotel and a range of rental houses are available.
On the island, there are also several private properties, including those owned by former Republican Gov. Nikki Haley, Olympic gold-medallist figure skater Tara Lipinski, and NBA basketball star Ray Allen.
While Biden is away, the House will vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, which the Senate approved this weekend.
After Biden’s Build Back Better failed to get enough Democratic support, the measure became the Democrats’ hallmark legislative package.
Biden supports the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes financing for health and environment initiatives.
Democrats also believe it would help curb the country’s record-high inflation, which some worry may fuel voter resentment of the president’s party in the November election.
Biden signed the PACT Act into law before departing on his vacation. The bill improves healthcare for war veterans who have been exposed to hazardous burn pits. Biden previously said that he thinks his son Beau’s illness, which killed him in 2015, was caused by his exposure to burn pits while serving in Iraq.
The president usually spends his vacations in Delaware, either at his residence in Wilmington or at his beach property in Rehoboth. He spent a portion of August of last year at each of those residences.
The Bidens, on the other hand, are no strangers to Kiawah. They had previously visited the island while Biden was vice president in 2009, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
President Biden last visited South Carolina in December, when he spoke at the graduation ceremony at South Carolina State University at the request of his close friend, Rep. Jim Clyburn.
Kiawah, a 15-mile-square-foot island with a beachfront golf resort, is 25 miles from Charleston. It is regarded as one of the East Coast’s best golf locations.
The PGA Championship will be hosted on Kiawah Island in May 2021 at The Ocean Course.
Biden enjoys golf but normally only plays at his country club in Wilmington.
According to former CBS News White House reporter Mark Knoller, who records presidential statistics, Biden played 15 rounds of golf during his first 18 months in office.