President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden touched down at John F Kennedy International Airport Monday ahead of a “Friendsgiving” event with service members on Staten Island.
The first couple made a rare trip to New York City Monday, touching down in Queens aboard Air Force One at 5:05 p.m. before traveling to Staten Island for a Friendsgiving dinner with around 350 service members and their families at Coast Guard Sector New York in Fort Wadsworth.
Biden served Thanksgiving meals during the event, which kicked off at 6:15 p.m., donning a blue apron with the presidential seal and disposable gloves.
The president also delivered remarks during the event, paying tribute to members of the Coast Guard who rushed to the aid of local communities during Hurricanes Helene and Milton along the south-east coast, according to multiple outlets.
“Simply put, we owe you,” Biden told the service members gathered at the event. “We owe your families. With all due respect to those in uniform, we don’t thank your families enough.”
The visit was part of Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative to support military families.
The first lady addressed the service members and their families, stating that it has been the honor of her life to serve as first lady and meet with military families.
“You’ve trusted me with your stories and your challenges,” Jill Biden told service members at Monday’s event.
The president and first lady traveled to and from Staten Island via Marine One, touching down at Miller Field before reaching Fort Wadsworth via motorcade. They returned to JFK to depart New York at 8:15 p.m.
Staten Island’s Father Capodanno Boulevard remained closed from around 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday as part of the visit, while Park N Rides along the boulevard remained closed from late Sunday until early Tuesday due to the visit.
Biden became the first sitting president in 12 years to visit Staten Island, following in the footsteps of former President Barack Obama, who visited in 2012 to assess the damage of Hurricane Sandy.
Earlier Monday, Biden pardoned two Thanksgiving turkeys—Peach and Blossom—as part of the long-standing White Housing tradition. Biden said the two turkeys were named after the Peach Blossom, Delaware’s state flower.
