‘Beach chair’ president: Biden’s 577 vacation days broke records

Joe Biden’s time in office was anything but action-packed. The 82-year-old president set a record for time away from the White House, spending 577 of his 1,463 days in office—39% of his presidency—on vacation, according to data compiled by the Republican National Committee.

For comparison, the average American, with just 11 paid vacation days per year, would need 52 years to match Biden’s four-year vacation total.

Mocked for Endless Getaways

Biden became an internet punchline after images of him lounging on the beach in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, went viral in July 2023. GIFs and memes flooded social media, cementing his reputation as the nation’s Relaxer-in-Chief.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) didn’t hold back, saying:

“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 not sure if we should be mad or thankful he worked so little.”

Biden Outpaced All Past Presidents in Vacation Time

Biden’s out-of-office record shattered previous presidential vacation stats:

• George H.W. Bush: 37% of his presidency (543 days) spent away.
• Donald Trump: 26% (381 days) spent outside Washington.
• Barack Obama & Ronald Reagan: 11% vacation time.
• Jimmy Carter: Just 5% (79 days) off in his single term.
• George W. Bush: 35% (1,020 days) away during two terms.

Vacationing Through a Political Meltdown

Even after being pressured by top Democrats on July 21, 2024, to drop his re-election bid, Biden still took 43 of the next 70 days off—a staggering 61% of that time.

Following his forced exit from the race, he retreated to:

• Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
• California’s wine country in Santa Ynez Valley
• Camp David
• His Wilmington, DE home

During this period, Biden took a jaw-dropping 23 consecutive days off from August 8 to September 2.

Final Months in Office: A Working President—Sort Of

Biden made brief appearances at work in his last two months but still managed vacations in Nantucket (November) and the Virgin Islands (December).

Despite his packed vacation schedule, he found time to issue more presidential pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history—including pardoning his own son, Hunter Biden, who faced federal felony gun and tax convictions.

GOP’s Parting Shot

With Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris now out of office, RNC Communications Director Zach Parkinson summed up their legacy:

“Thanks to the mandate delivered by voters in November, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are now on a permanent vacation. And thanks to President Trump, our country is back on track.”