Joe Biden’s arrival in New York City caused traffic chaos on Sunday evening as he invited his family to dinner at a chic Italian restaurant where Alec Baldwin is a regular.
The president’s Air Force One landed at JFK ahead of the U.N. General Assembly conference early next week, where climate change, poverty and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be high on the agenda.
His first stop, however, was Il Cantinori, where he enjoyed a meal with his family – presumably to celebrate his granddaughter Finnegan’s 23rd birthday.
First lady Jill Biden and her daughter Ashley Biden were also spotted at the family outing – although Finnegan’s father Hunter Biden, who faces three federal charges over his gun purchase, was not pictured with them.
Biden’s drive downtown snarled traffic as police blocked streets in busy parts of Manhattan while streets were cleared for his motorcade’s journey from the helipad to the chic hotspot, where he received a standing ovation from guests.
The president was pictured leaving the restaurant with his daughter Ashley Biden, 42, leading him by the hand as they were flanked by bodyguards around 8pm on Sunday
First lady Jill Biden followed them, waving and smiling at onlookers who pulled out their phones to capture the moment
His motorcade was spotted along 3rd Avenue as it came from the southern tip of Manhattan.
Cars were stopped on surrounding streets and several roads were closed, causing traffic jams across the island, including in tunnels and along the FDR Highway.
Il Cantinori is located on busy East 10th Street between Broadway and University and the NYU campus.
The Tuscan restaurant offers unusual dishes from roasted rack of lamb marinated with fresh herbs for $69 and grilled filet mignon in garlic cream sauce for $64 to cheaper options like grilled seasonal vegetables for $25.
Biden was seen leaving the restaurant with his daughter Ashley, 42, leading him by the hand as they were flanked by bodyguards around 8 p.m. on Sunday.
First lady Jill Biden followed them in a baby blue suit, waving and smiling at onlookers who pulled out their phones to capture the moment.
Joe Biden has arrived at the UN assembly in New York City amid a growing cacophony of criticism over his handling of the refugee crisis in the Big Apple
The president traveled from the White House to New York on Air Force One on Sunday evening, causing a major traffic jam as his motorcade made its way from JFK to downtown
When Joe Biden arrived in New York City on Sunday, traffic was backed up throughout Manhattan
But after enjoying the family affair, Biden may want to avoid his counterparts at the town hall next week as they continue to criticize him at every opportunity over his handling of the refugee crisis.
Around 10,000 refugees are pouring into New York every month, and Mayor Eric Adams warned that the problem now threatens to “destroy” the city.
He blamed the emergency on a lack of federal support, a “broken” nationwide immigration system and the fact that Republicans were busing refugees from their own states into the city.
Meanwhile, Biden’s administration has handed the humanitarian issue back to local officials like a hot potato, accusing them of having “no exit strategy” for processing thousands of people.
Former New York Senator Hillary Clinton also weighed in on the issue, calling on Biden to do more to help the beleaguered Big Apple.
Two sources close to Clinton told NBC New York that they agreed with Adams’ assessment of the problem – that a lack of help from the White House was to blame.
But the president’s attention at the U.N. summit will be on global issues, including the war in Ukraine, where Zelensky is at the center.
For the first time in years, Biden will be the only leader of the five powerful veto-wielding nations on the U.N. Security Council to attend in person.
New York City is struggling to cope with the overwhelming number of migrants arriving each month, with many forced to sleep on the streets while they wait to be processed
As 10,000 refugees continue to pour into the city every month, Mayor Eric Adams (pictured) warned that the problem now risks “destroying” New York City.
Protesters in New York gather outside the UN General Assembly, which is scheduled to open in the city on September 19, 2023
Department of Homeland Security officials have criticized the mayor’s office for having “no exit strategy” for the 10,000 refugees the city takes in each month
This has sparked private grumblings among diplomats from developing countries that major global players will not listen to their demands, which require billions of dollars to implement.
The conference also comes as a recent UN report warned that members are not on track to meet the climate goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Tens of thousands of people poured into the streets of New York on Sunday to demand increased action on climate change ahead of the meeting.
Demonstrators from around 700 organizations and activist groups carried signs reading “Biden, end fossil fuels” and “I did not vote for fires and floods” after the summer was marked by multiple climate change-related disasters.
“We are here to demand that the government declare a climate emergency,” said Analilia Mejia, director of the activist group Center for Popular Democracy.
“We need to wake up and take immediate action,” she told AFP.
A UN climate report released this month cited 2025 as the deadline for global greenhouse gas emissions to peak – followed by a sharp decline – if humanity is to limit global warming in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Later Sunday, the streets of New York City were again blocked, this time by a gridlock as central highways were closed to the passage of the presidential motorcade.
Motorists expressed their outrage on Twitter about the traffic chaos. “Fuck the United Nations, NYC and crazy Mayor Adams who causes traffic chaos and total gridlock on a Sunday,” complained a man named Jonathan.
Biden may want to avoid his counterparts at the town hall next week as they continue to harass him at every opportunity with criticism of his handling of the refugee crisis
Motorists expressed their outrage on Twitter about the traffic chaos. “Fuck the United Nations, NYC and crazy Mayor Adams who causes traffic chaos and total gridlock on a Sunday,” complained a man named Jonathan
“They block roads, bridges and tunnels while escorting, using the fast lane and laying out the red carpet for outsiders, with the police note telling you farmers to use local transport.”
Another man questioned how much more pollution closing roads ahead of the climate summit would cause.
“Maybe he should have taken the plane train from JFK,” he said.
“F*** YOU to the UN in NYC for destroying traffic on 1st and making the 40 minute bus ride take almost two hours,” chimed in one frustrated passenger.