A group of White House staffers and women with visitors badges — primarily Latina women, including American actress America Ferrera ( Ugly Betty) , per a staffer — were gathered on the lower balcony of the South Portico to see the president off to Fort Myers, Fl. President Biden waved to them before walking to Marine One.
America Ferrera campaigned for Biden throughout the 2020 election campaign.
Marine One lifted off from the South Lawn at 10.15 am Eastern. President Biden appeared to hear a few questions shouted from the gathered press about OPEC, but his response was entirely drowned out by the sound of Marine One’s idling engine. He did at one point give a “thumbs up,” the context of which is now lost to history.
Traveling with Biden today:
- Jen O’Malley Dillon, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
- Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
- Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Advisor to the First Lady
