According to data compiled by the Republican National Committee, former President Joe Biden spent 577 of his 1,463 days in office—nearly 40%—on vacation, making him the most absentee president in modern U.S. history.
For perspective, the average American with 11 paid vacation days a year would need 52 years to match Biden’s downtime. Even compared to past presidents, his numbers are staggering. George W. Bush, known for spending time at his Texas ranch, took 35% of his presidency off, while Trump took 26%. Meanwhile, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama took just 11%, and Jimmy Carter—known for his tireless work ethic—only 5%.
Biden’s retreating from public duties became even more apparent after pressure from fellow Democrats to step aside for Kamala Harris. In the 70 days following calls for him to drop out, he spent 43 of them on vacation—61% of the time. His leisurely schedule included extended stays at his Rehoboth Beach, DE home, Camp David, and even a 23-day stretch from August to September.
While he did return to work more consistently in his final two months, Biden’s presidency will likely be remembered for the amount of time he spent away from the job, raising concerns about leadership and accountability during a crucial period in American history.
In January 2024, a report from the New York Post detailed the length of time President Joe Biden spent away from the White House.
For 138 days of 2023, or 37% of the year, Biden was away at a vacation spot or retreat.
For 90 days of the year, Biden was in Delaware; for 22 days of the year, Biden was either traveling or visiting Lake Tahoe, Nantucket, or St, Croix.
In 2022, Biden was away for 38% of the year.
Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton wrote in an email to the Post that Biden can work from anywhere. “Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Americans saw the President hold a slew of foreign head of state calls before announcing a deal to release hostages from Gaza the very next day. The fact is: the President works every single day of the week whether he is in Washington, Delaware, Camp David, or anywhere else — and those around him and reporters who cover him closely know that.”
