On December 26, President Biden and his family arrived at St. Croix, the US Virgin Islands, to kick off their final holiday of his term. It was nearly 2 p.m. local time when President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and their daughter Ashley Biden landed on the Caribbean island of St. Croix to enjoy this holiday before the New Year.
This marks the third consecutive year that the US President has taken his family to the warm St. Croix island for a New Year vacation. When Air Force One landed at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, the temperature on the island was 82 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 27.8 degrees Celsius), while back in Washington D.C., where the Bidens departed from that Thursday morning, the temperature was around 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 degrees Celsius).
President Biden did not make any remarks to reporters before boarding Air Force One. During their vacation, the Bidens usually stay away from the public eye.
St. Croix is one of the main islands of the US Virgin Islands, covering an area of 84 square miles with a population of about 41,000. The highest temperature during Biden’s vacation is expected to reach the high seventies in Fahrenheit.
This is Biden’s last holiday as President, but before President-elect Trump’s inauguration on January 20, Biden still has official visits scheduled. He plans to travel to Italy next month to meet with Pope Francis, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
According to the local newspaper, The Virgin Islands Daily News, sources familiar with Biden’s vacation schedule revealed that Biden is not expected to leave St. Croix until at least the end of the year, and he will also make an appearance at an event in the Beeston Hill area.