President Joe Biden had a busy day in New England, starting with a visit to New Hampshire before heading to Boston for fundraising events. Upon his arrival in Manchester, he was greeted by New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, and Congresswoman Annie Kuster. From there, Biden made his way to a local YMCA facility to speak to veterans and their families.
During the event, Biden highlighted the importance of the PACT Act, which he signed into law in 2022. The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act aims to assist veterans in obtaining benefits after being exposed to burn pits or other toxic chemicals during their military service. This issue hits close to home for Biden, as he believes that his son’s brain cancer, which led to his untimely death, was a result of exposure to burn pits in Iraq.
“This is personal to me and my family and to his family and his children and [to] so many of yours,” Biden expressed. “So [when] I took office, I determined that, come hell or high water, we’re going to protect the heroes and protect our nation.”
After delivering his speech in Nashua, Biden headed to Boston for fundraising efforts. He was greeted at Logan Airport by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. The president’s full fundraising schedule was not disclosed, but police warned of potential traffic disruptions due to planned road closures near Logan International Airport, the Back Bay, and the Seaport.
However, not everyone was there to support Biden. Protesters voiced their criticisms of his handling of the war in Gaza. Similar protests had occurred during his previous visit to Boston in December. Despite these challenges, the Biden campaign remains determined to raise funds and make up for weak fundraising numbers in April when former president and 2024 rival Donald Trump outpaced him.
Speaking of Trump, Biden’s campaign seized an opportunity to respond to a Trump for President ad that included hypothetical headlines after a Trump election. One headline referenced the “creation of a unified Reich.” The ad has since been taken down, but Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the rhetoric, calling it appalling and unsurprising from the former president.
When asked about his reaction to the ad, Biden simply stated, “It would take too long,” as he left a VFW hall in Merrimack, New Hampshire. Meanwhile, Trump himself has been in court for his ongoing hush money trial, and his campaign spokesperson clarified that the video was not created by the campaign but was reposted by a staffer who did not notice the Reich reference.
After completing a few fundraising stops in Boston, Biden departed on Air Force One just before 9 p.m., concluding his eventful day in New England.
