President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden made a quick public appearance on Thanksgiving Day, dropping pumpkin pies off at the Nantucket Fire Department, where the president briefly answered questions.
Earlier, the president, his children Hunter and Ashley and some of his grandchildren took part in the Nantucket Turkey Plunge, a tradition on the island that raises funds for the children’s library.
The Biden family took part virtually, jumping in the waters off their borrowed $34 million estate instead of making a public appearance on Children’s Beach where the annual gathering takes place.
Granddaughter Naomi Biden posted a picture on X of the Bidens lined up on the beach wrapped in beach towels.
At the fire department, Biden said, ‘I’m keeping my fingers crossed,’ when asked if three-year-old Avigail Idan would be among the U.S. citizens released by Hamas when the four-day truce starts Friday morning.
FROZEN JOE: Naomi Biden posted a picture of the Biden family participating in a Nantucket tradition – the Turkey Plunge on Thanksgiving morning. From left Peter Neal, Little Hunter, Baby Beau, Hunter Biden, President Biden, Maizy Biden, Naomi Biden, Ashley Biden, Finnegan Biden and Natalie Biden
President Joe Biden (left) and first lady Jill Biden (right) briefly stepped out on Thanksgiving Day to present the Nantucket Fire Department with pumpkin pies
The president and first lady brought pumpkin pies to the Nantucket Fire Department around lunchtime on Thanksgiving Day
President Joe Biden said, ‘I’m keeping my fingers crossed,’ when asked if three-year-old Avigail Idan would be among the U.S. citizens released by Hamas when the four-day truce starts
‘I’m not prepared to give an update until it’s done,’ he said more generally about the hostage situation in Gaza.
The president also stayed mum when asked about the election Wednesday of far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who’s been compared to former President Donald Trump.
‘I’m focused on this election,’ Biden replied, a reference to his own reelection fight, with Trump the far-and-away leading candidate to win the Republican nomination.
Biden was also asked if he had a message for U.S. ciitizens Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, and Paul Whelan, who are currently detained in Russia.
‘We ain’t giving up,’ Biden told reporters before getting back into his black SUV that carried the president and first lady back to the $34 million waterfront compound they’re utilizing for the long weekend.
Earlier Thursday, while out at the 13,000 square foot compound owned by billionaire friend David Rubenstein, the president and first lady phoned servicemembers.
They also called into the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and spoke with longtime broadcaster Al Roker.
‘I think we have to remind ourselves how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on the face of the earth,’ the president said as he touted the country’s ‘extraordinary progress.’
Dr. Biden chimed in and said, ‘I think it’s important that we all commit to an act of kindness today.’
‘So call someone and wish them a happy Thanksgiving or do something kind,’ the first lady offered.
Roker asked the president to address this Thanksgiving explicitly, as political tensions are high.
The president and first lady wave from their SUV after visiting the Nantucket Fire Department on Thanksgiving Day
First lady Jill Biden smiles outside the Nantucket Fire Department as she and President Joe Biden made a brief public appearance on Thanksgiving
First lady Jill Biden (left) and President Joe Biden (right) chat with first responders at the Nantucket Fire Department
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden called into the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and spoke with longtime broadcaster Al Roker (left)
President Joe Biden (left) and first lady Jill Biden (right) made calls to servicemembers on Thanksgiving morning Thursday
‘On this Thanksgiving Day, Al, we have to come together. We can have different political views, but we have one view and the one view is that we’re the finest, the greatest nation in the world, we should focus on that, we should focus on dealing with our problems and being together and stop the rancor,’ Biden said. ‘We have to bring the nation together. We have to treat each other with a little bit of decency.’
‘And so I think that’s who the vast majority of the American people are,’ the president added.
Since 1975 the Bidens have spent nearly every Thanksgiving on Nantucket.
The president and first lady arrived via Air Force One Tuesday night and a number of family members were spotted around town Wednesday, braving rainy and windy weather for coffee, smoothies and gifts.
Several members of the Biden clan pushed their way through the wind – gusts blew up to 50 miles per hour – to walk the cobblestone streets of the downtown area as shown in exclusive pictures taken by DailyMail.com.
Hunter Biden posed for a photo with a group of teenagers who asked for one and was spotted buying a pair of slippers in CraftMasters of Nantucket.
It was unclear if they were for him or a gift for his father – the president has shopped in CraftMasters during past Nantucket trips.
First daughter Ashley Biden (center) holds up her phone to snap a selfie with Peter Neal (left), her niece Naomi Biden’s husband and niece Natalie Biden (right)
Hunter Biden (left) walks around the streets of Nantucket with daughter Maisy Biden (center) and nephew Hunter (right), the late Beau Biden’s son
The Biden clan is again taking over billionaire-turned-philanthropist David Rubenstein’s $34 million Nantucket compound for the president’s third Thanksgiving while in office
The Biden family was scheduled to celebrate President Biden’s 81st birthday on Wednesday, complete with coconut cake.
Hunter also enjoyed smoothies with Maisy, his daughter from his first marriage, and Little Hunt, the late Beau Biden’s son.
Meanwhile, Naomi Biden, along with her cousin Natalie and husband Peter Neal, started their Thanksgiving vacation with a workout and coffee run.
The trio was spotted walking out of Hub Coffee shop, wearing gym gear and appearing sweaty.
The shop offers New York style bagels and smoothies along with a variety of coffee options.
Ashley Biden, the president’s daughter, was spotted taking a selfie with her niece Natalie and Peter Neal outside Hub later Thursday afternoon.
The president and his family generally have their Thanksgiving meal catered by the Faregrounds Restaurant, where signed photos of Biden adorn the walls.
On Friday, the family usually goes into town for lunch, shopping and they stay around for the annual Christmas tree lighting.
On Saturday, President Biden typically goes to church.
On Sunday, the president and first lady are expected to return to Washington, D.C.