Joe Biden suffered sunburn as he returned to Washington DC from his New Year's vacation in St. Croix – just nine months after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous skin lesion on his chest.
Upon his return to the White House, the president answered a question from the press about what could be done about the border crisis this year.
“We have to do something, they have to give me the money I need to protect the border,” Biden said after officials announced that over 302,000 people crossed the border illegally in December.
This is the highest total for a single month ever recorded in history and marks the first time that the number of migrant encounters has exceeded 300,000.
The president's sunburn was noticeable during his annual physical just nine months after surgery to remove skin cancer from his chest.
President Joe Biden sported a bright red sunburn as he returned from his vacation in St. Croix over the holidays, just nine months after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous skin lesion on his chest
The president's sunburn was noticeable during his annual physical just nine months after surgery to remove skin cancer from his chest
The 81-year-old president will continue to have regular skin exams as part of his ongoing health care, but the biopsy site is “healing well,” White House physician Kevin O'Connor added in March.
Biden had “multiple localized, non-melanoma skin cancers” removed from his body before the start of his presidency, O'Connor said in his Feb. 16 summary of the president's physical.
He also acknowledged that Biden spent a lot of time in the sun when he was younger. In assessing the president, O'Connor considered him physically fit for office and described Biden as “healthy” and “strong.”
The president isn't the only family member diagnosed with skin cancer.
In January, First Lady Jill Biden had two basal cell lesions removed from her right eye and breast. All cancer cells were removed.
The Bidens enjoy going to the beach and often relax in the sun. The couple is also known to cycle frequently.
The president underwent annual physicals before announcing possible plans to run for a second term in the White House.
At the time of the physical exam in February, O'Connor noted that Biden had had a lesion removed and the results would be available later.
Upon his return to the White House, the red-faced Biden answered only one question from the press corps about what should be done about the border crisis this year
“We have to do something, they have to give me the money I need to protect the border,” Biden said after officials announced that over 302,000 people crossed the border illegally in December
O'Connor said Biden's gait “continues to be stiff” but noted that it has not worsened since the president's last physical.
A detailed “neurological examination” also revealed nothing “suggesting a cerebellar or central neurological disorder.”
Biden did not receive a cognitive test despite some calls from Republicans. They question his suitability to run, which they expect to use as a political issue in the next election.
He is already the oldest president in U.S. history, and if he wins another term he will be 82 by the time of his second inauguration.
The President, First Lady and granddaughter Natalie departed St. Croix on Tuesday, leaving the sunny Caribbean skies to the political storms of Washington DC.
The president was seen in public only once during his week in the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands. He attended mass and went out to dinner with his family. Otherwise, he stayed behind the gated walls of his luxurious private villa with a private beach and went tanned.
Awaiting Biden in DC is a battle over government funding that could lead to a shutdown as early as Jan. 19, uncertain funding for Ukraine amid a fight over border security, questions about his 2024 prospects, poor polling and a rise in… Attacks on US troops in Washington Middle East.
The President did some work during his vacation. He was briefed daily by his national security team and released statements after Russia launched a massive airstrike on Ukraine and a massive earthquake hit Japan.
Biden was tanned when he left the island on Tuesday evening
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden left St. Croix on Tuesday
Biden boards Air Force One on the way back to Washington, DC
The president was seen in public only once during his week in the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands before his departure
He took his wife, Jill, and granddaughter, Natalie, to St. Croix for dinner on Saturday and ate at a local restaurant in downtown Christiansted.
The family seemed to have a good time on their trip. The 81-year-old president said his New Year's resolution was to “come back next year.”
“I know you hate this mission down here. “I’m sorry to bring you here,” he joked to reporters who questioned him after he left the restaurant.
The Bidens visited Too.Chez, known for its seafood prepared by a team of father and son chefs. They are known locally for having the best catch of the day.
Biden seemed to enjoy his evening. As he exited the building, he stopped to talk to customers sitting on the restaurant's porch. And before he left the restaurant there was a lot of applause.
The president went to church early Saturday. As a devout Catholic, he rarely misses weekend mass. Neither Jill nor Natalie attended the service at Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Jill Biden leaves Too.Chez restaurant in downtown Christiansted on St. Croix
The Biden family lived rent-free in a villa on Solitude Bay, which has access to a private beach and is owned by Democratic donors Bill and Connie Neville
The Biden family lives rent-free in a beachfront villa owned by friends Bill and Connie Neville, who made their fortune in the technology industry and attended the White House state dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Located in an area where homes can sell for up to $3 million, the property features three bedrooms, a pool and access to a private beach.
The Bidens also spent last year at the Neville house.
Biden will have a busy schedule at the White House on Wednesday as he deals with the looming government shutdown.
When lawmakers return after the new year, they will have just eight legislative days until the first deadline on Jan. 19, which would result in a shutdown of parts of the government, and another four until the second deadline on Feb. 2, which would result in a full would lead to a government shutdown.
Members of Congress left Washington on vacation without reaching an agreement on the level of overall spending that is crucial to negotiating a broader funding deal.
She and President Biden remain in a standoff over funding for Ukraine and protecting the southern border.
Biden has asked Congress for $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, but Republicans are refusing to approve the aid without reaching a deal with Democrats to tighten security along the U.S.-Mexico border . His request also includes $14 billion for Israel in the fight against Hamas and $14 billion for U.S. border security.
Biden announced a $250 million arms package for Ukraine on Wednesday. Officials said it would be the final amount of U.S. aid unless Congress approves new funding.
The White House has warned that the funds will run out by the end of the year unless Congress approves additional aid for Kyiv.
Biden and his fellow Democrats made major concessions on border security to reach a deal, including raising standards for asylum seekers and expanding the president's authority to quickly deport migrants who cross the border.
But the Republicans remained noncommittal.
Immigration has a permanent place in Biden's foreign policy and is a political hot potato for the president, who is seeking a second term. Republicans — and even some Democrats — have criticized him for not doing enough to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
Donald Trump, the leading candidate for the Republican nomination, has repeatedly accused Biden of not doing enough to stop border crossings.
Last month saw a record number of border crossings.
Between December 1 and December 31, more than 302,000 migrants were documented attempting to cross the U.S. southern border.
This is the highest total for a single month ever recorded in history and marks the first time that the number of migrant encounters has exceeded 300,000.
The border has been a headache for Biden for months, and his approval ratings continue to slide: Only 38 percent of voters say they approve of his handling of immigration, compared to 46 percent in November.
Republicans used President Biden's vacation to lambast him for traveling to the Caribbean as the crisis mounted.
The beginning of 2024 is now also the official starting signal for the next presidential election.
Biden saw some worrying numbers in the first poll of the new year. Trump beat him with two key groups of voters, giving the former president an overall lead in the race for the White House.
Trump leads Biden by five points (39-34%) among Hispanic voters and three points (37-34%) among younger voters, according to a USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll.
Donald Trump leads Biden in new USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll; The Republican primary process begins in January
Biden won both electoral colleges in the 2020 presidential race, where he defeated Trump and won the White House. Monday's poll also shows Biden losing support among black voters, another key voting bloc.
He now has the support of just 63% of Black voters, a group he led with a whopping 87% in 2020.
Overall, the poll showed Trump leading at 39%, ahead of Biden at 37%, with 17% supporting an unnamed third-party candidate.
When third-party candidates were named, Trump's lead increased to 37% to Biden's 34%, with independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leading the third-party candidates with 10%.
The overall trend is worrisome for Biden, particularly among younger voters who overwhelmingly supported him four years ago and are largely at odds with Republicans on issues such as abortion access and climate change.
And some of the president's support appears to have gone to third-party candidates. The poll found that 20% of Hispanic and black voters and 21% of young voters say they would support someone other than the two main candidates.
Multiple polls have shown that voters want an alternative candidate for the 2024 presidential race, citing concerns about Biden's age. At 81, he is the oldest American president in history. If he wins a second term, he would be 86 at the end.
However, in the poll, 74% of likely Democratic primary voters support Biden, with just 9% supporting author Marianne Williamson and 2% supporting Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota.
Trump, 77, is leading the polls for the Republican nomination. The first nomination competitions will begin in a few weeks.