Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

President Joe Biden walks retired of a store arsenic helium visits Nantucket, Mass., with household Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

NANTUCKET, Mass. – President Joe Biden appeared connected the escaped Friday successful Nantucket.

Biden spent much than an hr walking astir downtown Nantucket's cobblestone streets, popping unannounced into quaint mom-and-pop shops, appearing to marque purchases and posing for photos with amazed concern owners.

He was accompanied by immoderate of his grandchildren. Biden and his full household are spending the Thanksgiving vacation connected the Massachusetts island, renting a sprawling compound that belongs to his person and billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein.

“Hey, Joe," “We emotion you, Joe,” immoderate radical shouted arsenic Biden passed by connected a acold and rainy day. One antheral was heard telling the 79-year-old president that helium looked younger successful person.

It's those kinds of interactions with mundane radical that Biden, a back-slapping person for astir 5 decades, perfectly relishes but hasn't done arsenic overmuch due to the fact that of COVID-19.

Biden acceptable disconnected connected the locomotion aft speaking to reporters astir a caller COVID-19 variant that is circulating successful South Africa, and astir his determination Friday to person the U.S. articulation different countries successful restricting question from confederate Africa, effectual Monday.

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The president opened Friday by going to a edifice for luncheon with his wife, Jill, children Hunter and Ashley, and their grandchildren. It's a post-Thanksgiving Day household tradition. They past browsed astatine a adjacent bookstore earlier Biden went disconnected connected the stroll.

He stopped successful astatine a leather goods store and respective clothing, acquisition and location goods stores earlier the household reunited to enactment successful different 1 of their traditions: attending Nantucket's yearly Christmas histrion lighting ceremony.

Biden's stroll astir downtown was reminiscent of a play during Barack Obama's presidency erstwhile helium rebelled against the limits that travel with occupying the Oval Office. Modern presidents mostly bash not get astir connected foot.

“The carnivore is loose!” Obama declared 1 time successful 2014 aft helium near the White House connected foot, alternatively of successful a motorcade, and walked implicit to the Interior Department, startling mean radical connected the streets of downtown Washington.

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Biden did not marque a akin declaration.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.