Joe Biden was booed and heckled on the streets of Nantucket on Saturday, even as people protesting the war in Gaza were kept away from the president.
His motorcade — from where he lives in David Rubenstein’s $34 million Abrams Point home — even took a different route into town — one that avoided passing a group of protesters gathered on the side of the road and held up signs reading “Liberate Palestine.” ‘
And a group of about 40 people demanding an end to the fighting in Palestine were held at one end of Main Street in downtown Nantucket – about six blocks from where President Biden met with Jill Biden, Hunter Biden and shopping for the first couple’s grandchildren. They held up a large banner that read “Ceasefire 4Eva” and shouted, “The pause is just a pause.” A permanent ceasefire. Let Gaza live.’
Additionally, people in the crowd lining the sidewalks chanted “Shame on you!” and “armchair murder” as the president walked by. Others booed. But there was also plenty of cheering mixed in with the shouts as Biden supporters tried to drown out his critics.
President Joe Biden sips a smoothie while shopping in Nantucket
An onlooker shouts “Shame on you!” as President Joe Biden (not pictured) visits local businesses with relatives in Nantucket
President Joe Biden walks with his granddaughter Natalie Biden
Protesters wait along the route President Joe Biden will take to downtown Nantucket; His motorcade took a different route and did not pass them
Hunter Biden with wife Melissa Cohen and son Baby Beau in Nantucket
Biden has become a target of criticism for his unwavering support of Israel, whose military has killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians to root out the Hamas militants responsible for the Oct. 7 attack.
The president spent much of this Thanksgiving holiday addressing the war between Israel and Hamas. He addressed the first round of freed hostages on Friday and spoke about it again on Saturday, saying, “Hopefully we’ll see something soon.”
But he also spent a lot of time shopping with his family. On Saturday, he visited several businesses in downtown Nantucket, including Murray Toggery, Mitchell’s Book Corner, The Black Dog and Nantucket Pharmacy, where he held what appeared to be a smoothie.
He ended his shopping trip by attending the 5 p.m. Mass at St. Mary, Our Lady of the Isle Catholic Church.
First Lady Jill Biden was with him during the shopping portion of the day. She had her own fans – a group of girls shouted at her: “You’re killing Jill.”
It was her second round of shopping that day. She previously traveled with her granddaughters Finnegan and Naomi.
Dressed in black workout clothes, the first lady stopped at Murray’s Beverage Store, the local liquor store, then walked across the street to the Ralph Lauren store. She and the two girls were pursued by SUVs and a large contingent of Secret Service agents.
Protesters on Main Street in downtown Nantucket were kept away by President Biden
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden go shopping in Nantucket on Saturday
President Joe Biden chats with onlookers as he walks the streets of Nantucket
There was a heavy security presence on the streets of Nantucket for Biden’s shopping spree
First lady Jill Biden shopped twice on Saturday – earlier in the morning and then in the afternoon with the president
President Joe Biden walks arm in arm with granddaughter Maisy Biden
Protesters in support of Palestinians hold signs near Biden’s motorcade route amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas
President Joe Biden leaves St. Mary, Our Lady of the Isle Catholic Church after attending mass with his family in Nantucket
President Biden on the streets of Nantucket
Jill Biden went shopping in downtown Nantucket on Saturday wearing workout clothes, gloves and a water bottle
Finnegan Biden (right) looks back to speak with her grandmother Jill Biden
Naomi Biden follows Jill Biden out of Murray’s, the local liquor store
Shopping is a traditional outing for the Biden family when they are on the small island off the coast of Massachusetts.
On Friday, the family ate their traditional lunch at the Brotherhood of the Thieves, a local pub, before walking the streets to do some Christmas shopping and then attend the annual lighting of the town’s Christmas tree.
Their first stop was Nantucket Bookworks, a family tradition.
“I can’t come without going to the bookstore.” “We have a tradition,” the president told reporters.
Biden left the bookstore with the volume “Democracy Awakening” by Heather Cox Richardson.
“We’re having a great time, thank you very much,” Jill Biden told reporters about her day.
The president then stopped by Craftmasters of Nantucket, a store Hunter had seen on Wednesday, where the first son purchased a pair of slippers – possibly a gift for the president since the family was celebrating his 81st birthday that day.
Hunter Biden, his wife Melissa Cohen and their son Beau were out with the president and first lady on Friday and Saturday. Hunter’s daughters from his first marriage, Maisy, Finnegan and Naomi, were also in attendance both days, as was Naomi’s husband of one year, Peter Neal.
First daughter Ashley Biden and her husband Howard Kerin are on the trip, as are the late Beau Biden’s children, Little Hunter and Natalie.
Several of the grandchildren – Natalie, Finnegan and Maisy – held President Biden as he walked the cobblestone sidewalks and held his arm as he walked the leaning bricks.
Jill Biden and her granddaughters also shopped at Ralph Lauren
Jill Biden with Finnegan Biden
On Friday evening, the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony was interrupted by about a dozen protesters who called on the president to “liberate Palestine” and accused him of genocide.
The president, first lady Jill Biden and their children and grandchildren gathered next to the tree in Nantucket’s town square as the town crier led the countdown to the lighting ceremony.
As the ceremony came to an end, fewer than ten protesters at the front of the crowd unveiled signs reading “Free Palestine” and “End Apartheid,” directly in view of the president.
“Biden, Biden, you can’t hide.” “We accuse you of genocide,” they shouted.
A man stepped to the microphone to remind them, “This is a community tree lighting,” and said that while he “respects their First Amendment rights,” he encouraged them to stop.
President Joe Biden (left) bought a copy of “Democracy Awakening” by Heather Cox Richardson at Nantucket Bookworks as he shopped with his family, including granddaughter Finnegan (right), on Friday as the U.S. awaited the release of its hostages from Gaza
Protesters held signs reading “Free Palestine” and “End Apartheid” at the Nantucket Christmas tree lighting event that President Joe Biden attended with his family on Friday evening
Baby Beau Biden is lifted by his sister Maisy Biden at the annual Christmas tree lighting in Nantucket, which was interrupted by Free Palestine protesters
The pro-Palestine demonstration came after the Christmas tree in downtown Nantucket was lit for the holiday season, with President Joe Biden and his family not far behind
They resisted, but their message was drowned out by the cheering of the crowd and the loud Christmas music.
Meanwhile, the children’s choir rushed to the president.
The protesters were all from Nantucket or currently live on the island.
“Nantucket Island has long been considered an exclusive vacation destination for wealthy tourists. “However, Friday evening’s protests indicate that islanders are resisting their island and community being used as a haven for politicians and wealthy elites,” a press release about the protests said.
The Christmas tree lighting was the Biden family’s last stop of the day after taking over downtown Nantucket for several hours.
The president’s traditional Black Friday outing was delayed due to the first release of hostages from Gaza following Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack on Israel on October 7.
After the release of the first group of hostages, he gave a speech in which he called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be considerate of civilian casualties.
“I encouraged the prime minister to focus on reducing the number of casualties while trying to eliminate Hamas, which is a legitimate goal he has.” “That’s a difficult task and I don’t know how long it will take,” Biden said.
The Biden clan reacts to the Christmas tree lighting on Nantucket on Friday evening. (From left) Hunter, Melissa Cohen, the President, Ashley Biden, Howard Krein, little Hunter, Finnegan, Baby Beau, Maisy and Dr. Jill Biden
Ashley Biden (center right) wore a holly and reindeer ear headband and attended the tree lighting with her husband Howard Kerin (right), while Hunter Biden (left) stood with wife Melissa Cohen (center left).
Dr. Jill Biden (left) smiles as she watches the Christmas tree lighting on Main Street in Nantucket with Hunter Biden (left) and President Joe Biden (center).
President Joe Biden (right) addressed the nation from the White Elephant Hotel in Nantucket on Friday afternoon as Hamas released the first hostages from Gaza. No U.S. citizen has yet to be released, and the president was unsure when that would happen
“My expectation and hope is that as we move forward, the rest of the Arab world and the region will also put pressure on all sides to slow down the process and end it as quickly as possible,” he added.