Joe Biden already holds a number of records during his tenure in office, including record-breaking gas prices and 40-year-high inflation.
He just reached a new high. More vacation time than his immediate predecessors.
Biden fell ill with COVID July 21. He was then isolated for 13 days due to COVID. The minute he got two negative tests he was out the door to Delaware for the weekend.
After that, he left on his next vacation, August 10. He stayed at the $20-million mansion of a Democratic donor in South Carolina, for nearly a week. On August 16, he returned to South Carolina to sign the fraudulently-named Inflation Reduction Act. Then he headed out the following night to Delaware.
He’s scheduled to come back on Wednesday for a DNC event and then he’s expected to leave back out to Delaware for another vacation weekend.
Biden’s last month >>
July 21-July 26, Quarantine 1.
July 30-August 6, Quarantine 2,
August 7, Rehoboth Beach
South Carolina: August 10-August 16
August 16-August 20: Wilmington
August 20-August 24: Rehoboth Beach https://t.co/PZgZae6WkA— Gabe Fleisher (@WakeUp2Politics) August 18, 2022
At this point, maybe the question shouldn’t be how many vacation days he takes, but does he ever work?
His vacation time has moved past Barack Obama, Donald Trump and George W. Bush — he’s spent more than 150 days in Delaware according to journalist Mark Knoller who keeps track of such things.
By my count, this is Biden’s 49th visit to Delaware as pres. It brings to 150 the number of days that Biden has been there. This compares with:
Trump: Trump made 17 trips to Mar-a-Lago and 13 to Bedminster NJ in 132 days
Obama: 8 vac trips incl HA & Martha’s Vineyard: (38 days)
GWBush: Visits to Texas Ranch (100 Days)— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 17, 2022
Knoller’s tally also showed that former President Donald Trump had spent a total of 132 days between his Mar-a-Lago resort, which he visited 17 times, and his golf club in Bedminster, NJ, where he traveled 13 times.
Former President Barack Obama had taken eight vacations 19 months into his term, racking up 38 away days to Hawaii and Martha’s Vineyard.
Former President George W. Bush visited Texas’ ranch fourteen times. This was for a total 100-day visit.
Biden was also a camp visitor to Camp David on 18 occasions. According to a GOP count, he’s spent more than 200 days on vacation and about 35 percent of his term so far on vacation.
Joe Biden spent 35% of his presidency vacationing. pic.twitter.com/jVmejzV5CC
— GOP (@GOP) August 17, 2022
This is at a time when people are being crushed by Bidenflation, and the “Suffering Index” is at an all-time high. Americans are delaying their discretionary and vacation spending. Biden visited the shore on the anniversary of Afghanistan’s withdrawal. Biden was at the beach on the first anniversary of the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. 13 Americans died and many were injured in that disaster. Biden’s team also lied about the pullout, leaving hundreds of Americans behind.
“How out-of-touch can Joe Biden get? Biden spends almost all of August vacationing, while Americans have to cancel summer travel due to high gas prices and historic inflation. Biden should stop jet-setting from beach to beach and focus on fixing the crises he created,” RNC spokeswoman Emma Vaughn said in a statement on Saturday.
Biden’s press secretary tried to say that it was a “non-stop job” wherever Biden was, but Biden has killed that tactic himself in the past by making it clear he knows he’s on “vacation” and you shouldn’t be bothering him.
REPORTER – “Mr. president, would you be able to talk with President Xi shortly?”
BIDEN: “I won’t talk to you!” I’m on my vacation…Yes, I’m going to be talking to him.” pic.twitter.com/FifEdlKSk9
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 19, 2022
Does this holiday gambit serve to cover him up? Perhaps. When he’s not in the spotlight, we don’t see the constant gaffes. We know that Democratic candidates have been doing all they can, not to be seen with him, hoping his lack of popularity doesn’t taint their campaigns. Maybe this is a bit like hiding him in the basement during his campaign: out of sight, out of mind, and people’s anger will lessen.
But if that is the aim it doesn’t sound like it’s helping much because Biden’s approval is still in the basement and being on constant vacation makes him seem even more disconnected.