President Joe Biden, his wife Jill, their children and grandchilden return to Nantucket on Tuesday to spend the Thanksgiving holiday at the $34 million luxurious compound owned by billionaire businessman turned philanthropist David Rubenstein.
Preparations have already begun on the island for the first family’s arrival. Large military cargo planes have been touching down at the island’s airport for the past week, carrying the equipment necessary to secure the president for his stay.
On Monday, a fleet of Massachusetts state police motorcycles and SUVs drove off the ferry and onto the town’s main drag to be on hand for Biden’s visit. About 20 to 30 motorcycles drove off the boat, along with an ambulance and a dozen cop cars.
Hundreds of people follow the president wherever he goes – Secret Service agents, support staff, and members of the military. They’ll lock down the area around Rubenstein’s 13,000 square foot home while the Bidens are at the residence.
The first couple will be joined by the majority of their grandchildren: Naomi Biden and her husband Peter Neal, Finnegan, Maisy, Natalie, Little Hunter and Baby Beau.
A fleet of Massachusetts State Police motorcycles arrived by ferry Monday onto Nantucket where the Biden clan will again celebrate Thanksgiving
The $34 million, 13-acre compound where the Bidens spend Thanksgiving
An ambulance, which is generally part of the presidential motorcade, arrived off the ferry Monday to Nantucket Island
Massachusetts State Police SUVs and motorcycles arrived by ferry Monday ahead of the Biden’s Thanksgiving trip to the tony island
Only Baby Beau – and his parents Hunter Biden and Melissa Cohen – joined the first family at last year’s Thanksgiving festivities.
First daughter Ashley Biden also made the trek to Nantucket last year.
This year the entire clan will be on hand to celebrate the holiday.
They’ll spend Wednesday celebrating President Biden’s 81st birthday, which is on Monday, marking the occasion with coconut cake.
Thursday they’ll enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at the $34 million home and they’ll also call military families to thank them for their service.
The meal is typically catered from the Faregrounds Restaurant, where signed photos of Biden adorn the walls.
On Friday, the family usually goes into town for lunch, shopping and the lighting of the Christmas Tree.
On Saturday, President Biden typically goes to church. On Sunday they’ll return to Washington, D.C.
President Joe Biden and his family will arrive on Nantucket island in Massachusetts Tuesday to mark Thanksgiving
Massachusetts State Police assets arrive on Nantucket Monday ahead of President Joe Biden’s arrival on the island Tuesday to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday
David Rubenstein’s property occupies Abrams Point a part of the island that’s named after one of the last surviving Native Americans of the Wampanoag people, Abram Quary
The president and first lady will spend Thanksgiving with six of seven of their grandchildren including Maisy Biden (left) and baby Beau (right)
Baby Beau with a turkey at Monday’s turkey pardoning ceremony at the White House
It’s unclear if the first family’s dog, Commander, will be joining them. He was present last year.
Jill and Ashley Biden were spotted walking him on their compound’s private beach on Thanksgiving day.
But the dog was removed from the White House after biting members of the Secret Service.
The Bidens have been going to Nantucket for 48 years, dating back to when Biden was a U.S. senator.
In his 2017 memoir ‘Promise me Dad,’ Biden wrote that Thanksgiving in 1975 was the first holiday he and his now-wife Jill spent together, going to Nantucket with his young sons Beau and Hunter for a little bonding time.
They rarely have missed a holiday on Nantucket since.
The island became a spot of many memories for the family. Beau proposed to his future wife Hallie at the town’s 2001 Christmas tree lighting and married her at a downtown church.
As recently as during his vice presidential tenure, Biden and his grandkids took part in the island’s Thanksgiving morning Cold Turkey Plunge, in which islanders and visitors gather at Children’s Beach and jump into the water to raise money for Nantucket Atheneum’s Weezie Library for Children.
Jill and Ashley Biden take Commander for a walk last year at Thanksgiving
Ashley holds up her phone to take a selfie with the first lady
The Bidens traditionally attend the town’s Christmas tree lighting. Hunter Biden, baby Beau, first lady Jill Biden and President Joe Biden await the ceremony in 2022
One of the few Thanksgivings the Bidens missed in Nantucket was in 2015, which took place about six months after Beau Biden died.
The family went to Rome instead. They also skipped going in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘We had some great years in that span, and we had some lousy years, but whatever was happening, whatever bumps and bruises we were suffering, we put it all aside and celebrated Thanksgiving in Nantucket,’ the president wrote in his memoir.
‘The holiday trip was a constant in our grandchildren’s lives from the time they were aware, and they made it clear how much it meant to them.’
While on the island, the Bidens are staying at Rubenstein’s $34 million 13-acre compound on Nantucket Harbor.
Biden has previously stayed at Rubenstein’s place on Nantucket, including in 2014 when he was vice president.
Exclusives pictures from DailyMail.com show a sprawling property that sits on the island’s secluded inner harbor with gorgeous views of the water as the sun sets in the background.
Rubenstein bought the waterfront property in 2000 for his now ex-wife Alice and their three children. He tore down the existing house and put up a 13,000-square-foot home which features a tennis court, swimming pool, hot tub and private dock.
Zillow estimates it would cost $30,000 a month to rent.
The house is located on historic Abrams Point off of Polpis Road – named after one of the last surviving Native Americans of the Wampanoag people, Abram Quary.