President Biden was doing some Black Friday shopping in Nantucket a few afternoons as international news coverage was dominated by Hamas terrorists freeing a group of 24 hostages — but no Americans — as part of a four-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
“Can’t come without going to the bookstore. We have a tradition,” the 81-year-old president told reporters on the Massachusetts island where he and his extended family were vacationing at the home of billionaire David Rubenstein.
Biden went for a bargain after briefing the nation for 10 minutes on the hostage crisis — admitting he was unsure when jihadists would free up to nine Americans believed to have been taken hostage during the Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel.
“We don’t know when that will happen… It is my hope and expectation that it will happen soon,” Biden said before heading to a late lunch at a nearby Brotherhood of the Thieves restaurant.
Hamas has agreed to release 26 additional hostages — a total of 50 out of about 240 — over the next three days, but it is not clear who they will be.
Hunter Biden joined his father for some Black Friday shopping after dining at the Brotherhood of Thieves restaurant. AP President Biden spent 10 minutes discussing the hostage crisis before storming a store in Nantucket. AP
Biden was trailed on Friday by his scandal-plagued son Hunter, whose business dealings are at the center of a House Republican impeachment inquiry into his father.
Hunter, 53, also faces federal firearms charges in Delaware and is expected to be indicted on tax charges in Los Angeles after leaving a probation-only plea deal in July.
At one point, Biden slipped into a jewelry store without first lady Jill Biden — as Hunter, his wife Melissa Cohen and their young son Beau sat on the bench.
Biden’s extended family lives in the home of billionaire David Rubenstein.AP
The first son then played photographer as his father posed with a group of children waiting outside the store, according to a group report.
It is unclear what the president may have bought from the jeweler.
At the bookstore, Biden bought the book “Democracy Awakening” by historian Heather Cox Richardson, who obtained a rare interview with Biden last year in which she praised him, calling him “a transformational president who restored the traditional idea of American democracy.”
The president did not speak to reporters as he went to the store, but the first lady told reporters that the family “had a great time, thank you.”
First lady Jill Biden and her daughter Ashley went Black Friday shopping in Nantucket.AFP via Getty Images Biden, 81, spent time shopping after admitting he didn’t know when Hamas would release American hostages.AP The Biden family spent Thanksgiving week in Rubenstein’s home every year as his president.AP Biden visits Massachusetts island as House Republicans weigh impeachment charges over corruption allegations.AP
The war in Gaza has repeatedly caused awkward optics for Biden — including when he went ahead with a Halloween celebration on the White House lawn when children in Gaza, including some young relatives of former Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), died in an Israeli airstrike or as a result of a stray Hamas rocket.
The Biden family made a shopping trip before stopping by the island’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, where the president was jeered by anti-Israel protesters.
“Biden, Biden, you can’t hide! We charge you with genocide!” a group of about 10 activists chanted, forcing an anxious emcee to scold them: “I’m sorry, this is a community tree walk … This is not a political event.”
Biden and his grandchildren cheer during the lighting of the Nantucket community’s Christmas tree. AFP via Getty Images A group of pro-Palestinian protesters jeered Biden during the tree lighting. AFP via Getty Images Detractors accused Biden of supporting “carnage” in Gaza and refused lawyers’ pleas to stop chanting.AP A large number of Palestinian supporters gathered outside one of Atlanta’s busiest malls on Black Friday to protest US funding. for Israel’s fighting in Gaza, and suggested an anti-Biden vote in 2024 because of White House support for Israel. Robin Rayne/ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.com
Biden, already the nation’s oldest president, is spending time with family as he prepares for an expected rematch against former President Donald Trump next year. He faces a primary challenge early next year from Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who has pointed to polls showing Biden would lose to Trump if the election were held today.
Meanwhile, special counsel David Weiss reportedly presented evidence to a federal grand jury in Los Angeles after Hunter Biden allegedly defaulted on $2 million in foreign income. He will also go on trial in 2024 on gun charges — potentially making him the first member of the Biden family to be convicted.
In July, the first son abandoned a plea deal only on trial for both firearms and tax crimes in a dispute over his claim for immunity for other conduct, such as possible charges for illegal foreign lobbying and money laundering.
Hunter and first brother James Biden frequently involve Joe Biden in their foreign business dealings in countries such as China and Ukraine — related to House Republicans expected to introduce articles of impeachment early next year.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
