Former President Joe Biden was spotted Thursday trying to set up a beach chair in Malibu, California, marking his first Independence Day weekend since leaving the White House.
The 82-year-old Democrat was photographed on the sand near the home of his son, Hunter Biden. He eventually settled under a red umbrella with former First Lady Jill Biden, while his grandchildren, Finnegan and Beau Biden Jr., played nearby.
Though he appeared relaxed, the scene sparked attention — not just for the family outing, but for the symbolic contrast to last year’s rocky Fourth of July debate performance that many believe sealed his 2024 election defeat.
Throughout his presidency, Biden was known for frequent vacations, spending 577 out of 1,463 days away from the White House at destinations like Nantucket, St. Croix, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. His beach excursions often drew criticism, especially when viral videos showed stumbles on sand and a bike fall in Delaware.
Later Thursday, Biden was seen dining at Nobu with Hunter following his keynote speech earlier in the week at a human resources conference in San Diego. During the event, he emphasized the importance of family time, telling attendees: “There are moments we’ll never get back.”
The Malibu outing also comes as Biden faces renewed scrutiny. Congressional Republicans and the Trump administration have launched investigations into whether Biden was fully engaged in presidential decision-making during his final year in office. One area of focus: whether White House aides used a mechanical autopen to sign executive orders and pardons without Biden’s direct involvement.
The White House has pushed back against such claims. In May, Biden dismissed concerns about his cognitive health: “You can see that I’m mentally incompetent and I can’t walk — and I can beat the hell out of both of them,” he quipped, referencing two journalists who authored Original Sin, a book alleging his aides concealed signs of mental decline.
In June, Biden issued a formal statement denying the accusations: “I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.”
His personal physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee on July 9. Lawmakers are expected to question him not only on the autopen matter but also on the president’s recent prostate cancer diagnosis. Biden never publicly released cognitive assessments or PSA screening results during his presidency.
Despite the political noise, Thursday’s beach trip painted a picture of Biden attempting to enjoy private time with family — and perhaps quietly reflecting on the presidency he left behind.
