Joe Biden tops modern Presidents with 577 vacation days during four-year term
Courtesy: AP
In an unexpected twist of presidential leisure, Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States, has taken the crown for the most vacation days of any modern-day president.
A new report compiled by the Republican National Committee reveals that Biden spent a staggering 577 days — 39% of his presidency — on vacation out of his 1,463 days in office.
For context, the average American, who typically gets 11 paid vacation days annually, would need to work for 52 years to match Biden's four-year vacation tally. Biden’s beach days, bike rides, and time spent at his Delaware properties were widely documented, sparking both online mockery and political discussions.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) humorously remarked on Biden's absence, saying, “Considering how awful his misguided policies were and the various crises they created, from the border to inflation, imagine the damage he would have done if he worked every day? I’m not sure if we should be mad or thankful he worked so little.”
Biden's extensive time off exceeds that of previous presidents, including George H.W. Bush, who spent 37% of his presidency — 543 of 1,461 days — away from the White House.
Over 1 year of vacation on a 4 year job is crazy. Sounds more like Leave of Absence https://t.co/22fLGktrTn
Donald Trump, on the other hand, took 26% of his first term off. In stark contrast, figures like Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, and Jimmy Carter were much more hands-on in the Oval Office, with Reagan and Obama taking just 11% of their presidencies off.
Biden’s critics have pointed to his frequent beachside and retreat vacations, particularly after being pressured in July 2021 by fellow Democrats to drop his re-election bid. Some even argue that his "vacation mode" could have contributed to several challenges during his term, including rising inflation and border issues.
But others, like RNC Communications Director Zach Parkinson, took a more direct swipe at Biden’s time off: “Thanks to the mandate delivered by voters in November, Joe Biden and [former Vice President] Kamala Harris are now on a permanent vacation.”
Despite the controversy, Biden continued his vacation lifestyle into late 2023, with trips to places like Nantucket and St. Croix. However, he remained active in his final months, issuing presidential pardons and commutations, including one for his son Hunter Biden.
Whether it’s a joke or a serious concern, Biden’s record-breaking vacation days have certainly caught the public’s attention, with images of him soaking up the sun becoming viral memes. But it seems his "relaxation ratio" is one for the history books.
While Joe Biden was claiming to be the President he spent 577 of his 1,463 days on vacation.
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) February 15, 2025
The average American gets 2 weeks worth of vacation time a year.
Must be nice. pic.twitter.com/sLsPG2WwrH39.5% spent on vacation... https://t.co/yPkQ0pd5xC