Bidens fly from Trump inauguration to Santa Barbara County for another Central Coast visit
After finishing his four-year term as president of the United States, Joe Biden and his wife returned to the Central Coast on Monday, arriving at Vandenberg Space Force Base following President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
NBC senior White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell last week first announced the 46th president and former First Lady Jill Biden planned a Santa Barbara County visit.
Federal Aviation Administration planning schedules showed a VIP flight departing from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Monday en route to landing at Vandenberg later in the day.
The former first couple could be seen boarding the distinctive blue and white aircraft after the inauguration.
They arrived at Vandenberg late Monday afternoon, where top commanders greeted the couple.
The Boeing VC-25 aircraft, a military version of a Boeing 747, from the presidential fleet reportedly was dubbed a “special air mission.” The designations Air Force One and Air Force Two are reserved for when a sitting president or vice president is on board.
The Bidens visited the Santa Ynez Valley last summer, staying at the ranch of billionaire Joe Kiani, a family friend and a big political donor. Biden’s son, Hunter, reportedly visited the ranch in March 2023.
The Kiani Preserve, which includes a winery, boasts 8,000 acres spanning hills and canyons “in the shadow of Figueroa Mountain.”
The summer visit began in August after Biden spoke at the Democratic National Convention making the case for then-Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Once expected to accept the Democratic nomination for president, Biden stepped aside in July, saying he believed it would be “in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down.”
He then mostly stayed out of public view during the Santa Ynez Valley trek.
However, there were some brief sightings of various Biden family members, including at The Book Loft in Solvang and Saturday evening Mass at Old Mission Santa Ines.
For that visit, the Bidens arrived at the Santa Barbara Airport and left days later after being taken by helicopter from the Santa Ynez Valley to board Air Force One at Vandenberg.
This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 11:10 AM with the headline "Bidens fly from Trump inauguration to Santa Barbara County for another Central Coast visit."