Former President Joe Biden didn’t waste any time ruffling feathers after leaving The White House this week after reports say he and former first lady Jill Biden are in seclusion at a swanky destination.
However, while the former president is allowed to take a break, the move is being met with criticism from locals.
Reports have spotted the Biden’s vacationing in seclusion in the Santa Ynez Valley of California, which is located in California’s wine country.
According to local news outlet KEYT, residents headed to the Santa Barbara Airport on Monday, Jan. 20 to try and catch a glimpse of the presidential plane landing.
At 2:22 a.m. today, Air Force One landed at the Santa Barbara Airport for President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden to vacation in the Santa Ynez Valley.https://t.co/QTBIczVLVN#edhat #Sbnews
— Edhat (@Edhat) August 20, 2024
The outlet also reported a “no-fly notice” that took effect in the airspace around Vandenberg, Calif. signaling the Bidens’ arrival.
PEOPLE magazing reported that the Bidens have vacationed in the region before.
“He and Jill visited last summer so this is his second visit in less than a year,” said Shelby Sim, President/CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley.
The outlet also reported that Biden’s last visit to the exclusive area was when he announced that he’d drop out of the 2024 presidential race and endorse then-Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee at the Democratic National Convention last August.
Now reports indicate that Biden and his family could be moving to the area permenantly.
“Rumor is he’s purchasing a home in the area,” Sim adds, but notes, this visit “is purely R&R, away from the hustle and bustle.” The region is a far cry from D.C. There’s “no traffic” and “a home town country feel,” says Sims.
The Bidens have not shared where they will be based after moving out of the White House, but have long maintained two houses in Delaware, in Rehobeth Beach and Wilmington.
The abrupt vacation to California is being met at tone deaf to many residents of the state, which continues to battle wildfires in the Southern California region.
One user noted: “Biden doing what he does best…vacation while the country literally goes up in flames.”
President Donald Trump is also scheduled to travel to California on Friday to survey the aftermath of wildfires that ravaged the LA area, his first trip since becoming president on Monday.
Trump has been vocal about the response – and preparation – aimed at taming the California fires, saying, “we are watching fires still tragically burn from weeks ago without even a token of defense.
“They’re raging through the houses and communities, even affecting some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in our country — some of whom are sitting here right now. They don’t have a home any longer. That’s interesting. But we can’t let this happen. Everyone is unable to do anything about it. That’s going to change.”
Trump has been vocal of his criticisms of Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s response to the California fires in recent weeks, posting on Truth Social, “the incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out.”