Just over an hour after President Donald Trump took the oath of office, former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden departed Washington, D.C., by helicopter. Nighthawk 46 (known as Marine One when the current president is on board) took them to Joint Base Andrews, where the outgoing president addressed a crowd of supporters.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve as your president,” Biden told the cheering crowd, adding, “I love you.”
Biden greets President Trump with two-word message at White House
Biden and the former first lady will fly Special Air Mission 46 at Joint Base Andrews after the inauguration on January 20, 2025. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
After giving a short speech, the former president and his wife flew to California's Santa Ynez Valley for some personal time.
But while some people went to the Santa Barbara airport hoping to see Biden's plane land, a “no-fly” notice in the airspace around Vandenberg prevented the former president from landing at the airport. Local media KEYT reported that.
“He and Jill visited last summer, so this is their second visit in less than a year,” said Shelby Sim, president and CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley. he told People magazine. Sim also told the outlet that there were “rumors” that the former president was considering buying a home in the area, but insisted the visit was “purely for R&R.”
Biden and the former first lady head aboard Air Force One during a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, after President Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025.
The Biden family also visited the Santa Ynez Valley after the former president spoke at the Democratic National Convention just weeks after withdrawing from the 2024 election. They reportedly stayed at the home of their “friend”, billionaire donor Joe Kiani. new york post It was reported at the time.
Mr. Kiani donated nearly $3 million to Mr. Biden's super PAC, foundation and inaugural committee, according to House Republicans who have questioned the relationship. Meanwhile, in September 2021, Chiani secured an appointment from Biden to serve on the Science and Technology Advisory Council, which advises the executive branch on policy matters related to Chiani's medical technology business, Masimo. Republicans say Masimo has received nearly $3 million in federal contracts since Biden took office in January 2021.
The Bidens stayed at the Kiani Preserve, an 8,000-acre estate owned by the billionaire donor of the same name, during their last visit to the area after the then-president withdrew from the campaign trail in August. It has been reported.
Biden takes free vacation at friend's California home, angering critics
Biden and the former first lady depart by helicopter from the east front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., after President Trump's swearing-in on January 20, 2025.
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Little is known about where the Bidens will end up after leaving the White House, as they have not yet made their plans public. The former president has two homes in Delaware, one in Wilmington and one in Rehoboth Beach, but he has not said whether either will be his home after taking office. However, if the rumors mentioned by Sim are true, the Biden family could settle on the West Coast.
Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
