During his time in the Oval Office, President Joe Biden acquired an alarming tendency for taking extended breaks. Remarkably, within his total days of presidency, which number 1,463, Biden handsomely enjoyed 577 days of vacation, according to recently surfaced data. This meant that a whopping 39% of his presidency was harnessed in relaxation, setting a new and worrying record among modern US presidents. Indeed, the typical American citizen, with their 11 annual paid vacation days, would need over half a century of work to achieve a holiday equivalent to Biden’s.
The internet didn’t shy away from expressing its views on Biden’s penchant for relaxation. After pictures of Biden sunbathing in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, in July 2023 became public, a series of GIFs and online jests started to crop up. Some pointed out the negative consequences of his policies and the crises they had stirred across the states, from border issues to rampant inflation. Yet others sarcastically wondered if the extensive damage caused would have been worse if Biden had been at work regularly.
Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) took a stint at humor by stating, ‘Considering how awful his misguided policies were and the various crises they created, from the border to inflation, imagine the damage he would have done if he worked every day? I’m uncertain whether we should be irritated or grateful that his work rate was so paltry.’ Her statement reflected the mixed emotions of many Americans regarding Biden’s work ethic.
As his tenure ran its course, Biden’s relaxation level increased, particularly after his party peers pressured him to abandon his re-election bid in July. Of the 70 days that followed this decision, an astonishing 43 days, or 61%, were spent in rest or recreation. Existing records show that even former President George H.W. Bush, often termed the Vacationer-in-Chief, spent less time away from his duties – only 37% of his presidency was spent on vacation.
Examining the records of past U.S. presidents reveals that Biden’s habit of time off significantly exceeds that of his predecessor, Donald Trump. A total of 26% of Trump’s first term was spent outside of Washington, D.C., amounting to a mere 381 of his 1,461 days in office. This percentage pales compared to Joe Biden’s exorbitant 39%.
Notably, Joe Biden’s excessive breaks starkly contrast with the work ethic of other presidents. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama used minimal vacation time, vacationing for merely 11% of their total two terms. And compared to the robust workhorse Jimmy Carter who had only 79 vacation days in a single term, Biden’s time-off record indeed raises eyebrows.
Biden’s time-off percentage even overrides George W. Bush’s record for time taken off. He only spent 35% of his 2,922 days in office during his two terms away from DC, a contrast to Biden’s precedent-setting rate of vacation time during his presidential term.
Long before being shown the door from the presidential ticket, Biden was luxuriously making use of his vacation home at Rehoboth Beach, DE. Reports from September 2023 indicated that Biden was on track to spend 40% of his presidential tenure on holiday, quickly bringing attention to his increasing frequency of vacations.
Following the September 2023 reports, Biden retreated more and more to either his Rehoboth Beach abode or his other residence in Wilmington, DE. Stretching his vacation time even further, he took an extraordinary 23 consecutive days off from August 8 to September 2.
Not content with his considerable vacation time, Biden continued his spree with trips to Nantucket in late November and St.Croix, Virgin Islands in late December. While he did make brief appearances in the office during the final two months of his tenure, the majority of his time was spent leisurely unfocused on state matters.
As part of his infrequent office attendances, Biden left his mark by issuing the highest number of presidential pardons and commutations in U.S. history. The sheer number raises questions about the quality and validity of these pardons, given they happened during a time when his focus on presidential duties appeared to be at its lowest.
Marking the end of his vacation-filled presidency, one representative humorously noted ‘Thanks to the mandate delivered by voters in November, Joe Biden is now on a permanent vacation.’ The remark suggests a wider sentiment among the public; that Biden’s leave from the White House is perhaps for the best, given his persistent disengagement from his presidential duties.
The extensive relaxation pattern observed during Biden’s presidency sparked suspicion and criticism, leading one to question whether Biden took his role as the commander-in-chief seriously. It exposed his lack of commitment to his duties, painting a picture of a man more interested in his own leisure than in running his country.
Sadly, this continuous lack of commitment brought significant harm to the country, specifically in terms of dealing with crucial issues such as the border crisis and the battle with inflation. Such apathy from the top leadership undeniably hampers the country’s ability to deal with its challenges.
As voters look ahead following Biden’s departure, many hope for a more engaged and dedicated president. And while Biden may be on his ‘permanent vacation,’ America must return to a more focused, diligent path to overcome the challenges it faces.