Key Takeaways
- • President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden spent Thanksgiving 2021 at a Nantucket mansion owned by David Rubenstein, cofounder of private equity firm Carlyle Group and a billionaire with a net worth of $4.6 billion according to Forbes.
- • The estate, valued at $30–$34 million, sits on a 14-acre property at Abrams Point on Nantucket—a decades-long family tradition for the Bidens, with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns.
- • Rubenstein was traveling abroad during the Thanksgiving period, making the property available to the First Family as it has been for previous visits.
- • White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki fielded criticism from reporters questioning the optics of the president staying at a "billionaire's compound" while middle-class Americans struggle with affordability of holiday celebrations.
- • The White House confirmed the arrangement on November 24, 2021, stating the First Family would "stay at the home of their friend, David Rubenstein, as they have done previously."
Summary
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden spent the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday at a Nantucket mansion owned by David Rubenstein, cofounder and principal of the Carlyle Group, one of the world's largest private equity firms. Rubenstein, with a reported net worth of $4.6 billion, made his residence available to the presidential family while he traveled abroad during the holiday period. The White House confirmed the arrangement on November 24, stating the Bidens would "stay at the home of their friend, David Rubenstein, as they have done previously."
The property, a sprawling 14-acre estate situated at Abrams Point on Nantucket, carries an estimated valuation of $30–$34 million. The Thanksgiving stay represents a continuation of a family tradition spanning more than four decades. The Bidens have historically spent the holiday on Nantucket, with 2020 marking an exception when the family remained in Delaware amid pandemic-related health concerns.
The arrangement generated scrutiny from media and political observers regarding optics and messaging. During a November 19 White House briefing, a reporter pressed Press Secretary Jen Psaki on what message it conveyed to middle-class Americans struggling to afford Thanksgiving celebrations that President Biden would reside in a "billionaire's compound in Nantucket." Psaki did not immediately confirm the location of the stay but stated the administration had been working to ensure Americans had more financial resources available for spending. The White House did not provide additional comment to Business Insider regarding the characterization or broader implications of the holiday destination choice.
The property, a sprawling 14-acre estate situated at Abrams Point on Nantucket, carries an estimated valuation of $30–$34 million. The Thanksgiving stay represents a continuation of a family tradition spanning more than four decades. The Bidens have historically spent the holiday on Nantucket, with 2020 marking an exception when the family remained in Delaware amid pandemic-related health concerns.
The arrangement generated scrutiny from media and political observers regarding optics and messaging. During a November 19 White House briefing, a reporter pressed Press Secretary Jen Psaki on what message it conveyed to middle-class Americans struggling to afford Thanksgiving celebrations that President Biden would reside in a "billionaire's compound in Nantucket." Psaki did not immediately confirm the location of the stay but stated the administration had been working to ensure Americans had more financial resources available for spending. The White House did not provide additional comment to Business Insider regarding the characterization or broader implications of the holiday destination choice.
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