WASHINGTON — President Biden thanked first responders at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday with an awkward phone call that provided some serious TV for viewers of the annual parade.
from Massachusetts Island Private-equity billionaire’s home David Rubenstein, the President and First Lady Jill Biden began a call that began with a long and uncomfortable silence NBC’s Dylan DryerIn the parade scene, the pair appeared to be unable to hear for about 30 seconds.
“I’m not one to take a phone call during TV, but I feel I should answer it,” Dreyer said.
“Hello, Mr. President?” the reporter said.
But no one answered as Jill Biden could be heard faintly in the background after seconds of dead air and confusion.
“I don’t think I can hear you…” Dreyer said again. “Can you hear me, Mr. President?”
Biden can be heard saying something to the first lady and then Dreyer says, “Hello? Happy Thanksgiving, Mr. President. You there?”
President Biden, accompanied by the first lady and grandson Beau Biden Jr., arrives with pie for firefighters in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Biden responded after a delayed and awkward silence.
Biden answered the call from his Massachusetts island home.
That seemed to get Biden’s attention and he replied: “We’re here.”
“I want to say thank you to the firefighters and the police officers, the first responders,” Biden said once the connection became clear. “They never take a break.”
Jumping up, the first lady said, “And God certainly bless our soldiers.”
“And by the way, we’re going to be talking to some of our troops later in the day, both here and abroad. I hope everyone remembers, ”said the President. “We miss them every day. May God truly bless our soldiers.
It was the second year that Biden participated in the annual parade, which this year features 27 giant balloons and 31 floats.
The pair is scheduled to call American service members on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. ET. But first, he visited the Nantucket Fire Station with grandson Beau, 2.
Biden dropped off some pumpkin pie for the firefighters, who in turn gave Beau a miniature fire hat. The boy is Biden’s youngest grandchild – the son of Hunter Biden and his wife, Melissa Cohen.