President Joe Biden's final year in office has been characterized by significant time spent away from the White House, with nearly a quarter of 2024 dedicated to vacations and travels. A review conducted by the Daily Caller News Foundation indicated Biden has spent approximately 24% of his time out of the presidential residence, amounting to 89 full and partial days away from the Oval Office.
This extensive absence coincided with the aftermath of Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, thereby amplifying concerns about his engagement with key duties and responsibilities. Throughout the year, the president has favored locations such as Delaware, Camp David, St. Croix, Nantucket, and California for his retreats, with 46 days spent away from the office after his campaign suspension.
Notably, the month of August saw Biden away for 21 days, as he traveled to Delaware for 14 of them and spent six days at the luxurious residence of Joe Kiani, before heading to Camp David for one more. Overall, Biden undertook 27 trips to Delaware during 2024 alone.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates came to Biden's defense, arguing, "It’s a little ironic to be fleshing this out for an internet-based outlet, but commanders-in-chief have been able to perform the full range of their duties from anywhere in the world for decades." He emphasized Biden’s commitment to his work, asserting he operates "around the clock" and takes few vacation days.
Bates also pointed to Biden’s significant foreign engagements, including when the president was reportedly working from Delaware to secure the release of wrongfully detained Americans, such as Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan. During Biden's travels, the White House often provided updates on calls and meetings the president managed from different locations, reinforcing the notion of continuity of responsibilities.
Despite these assertions, there remains skepticism around the adequate presence of the president during times of national concern or urgent affairs. This scrutiny of Biden's vacation habits leads to comparisons with his predecessors. Former CBS White House Correspondent Mark Knoller noted, for perspective, how former President George W. Bush spent 490 full or partial days at his Texas ranch over the course of his two terms, and former President Ronald Reagan spent 349 days at his California ranch throughout his eight years in office.
This suggests the trend of previous leaders dedicatng substantial time to personal retreats, yet raises questions about current public sentiment, particularly with Biden’s incumbency amid electoral pressure.
Despite Bates proclaiming record holiday sales and other governmental accomplishments as indicative of active presidential leadership, the continuous scrutiny surrounding Biden's absence cannot be overlooked. "And now, record holiday sales. Merry Christmas!" Bates quipped, indicating the administration's attempts to pivot from potential criticisms.
Looking forward, as Biden's presidency inches toward its conclusion, the population watches closely—will Biden's extensive vacationing hinder his political efficacy? Only time will tell how historians will interpret this chapter of the Biden presidency, balancing the requirements of the office against the realities of personal space sought amid political turbulence.