Biden holds ice cream social event to thank campaign team after withdrawing from election

WILMINGTON, Del. Of course, ice cream was involved.

President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, hosted a thank you event Thursday for hundreds of staffers who worked on the re-election campaign that he chose to leave almost three weeks ago.

Judging by the security tents, the venue offered a dose of political nostalgia: Officials met with Biden at The Queen, a music venue that played a critical role in his successful run for president in 2020, when he spoke frequently to the public from the theater stage.

After dropping out of the race, Biden wanted to show his appreciation for the team’s work over the past year and their continued efforts in support of the Vice President. Kamala Harriswho succeeded him as the Democratic candidate. That’s according to a person familiar with the president’s plans, who shared details of the events but insisted on anonymity to discuss preparations.

The event featured food and, naturally for Biden, his beloved ice cream.

The president has maintained a lower profile since leaving the presidential race, a response to the loss of confidence in his ability to defeat Donald Trump after a disastrous debate on June 27 against his rival.

He has scaled back his travel schedule and held more political briefings behind closed doors.

Biden still engaged in some important activities, such as working for an exchange of prisoners involving Russia that resulted in a multinational agreement that freed two dozen people.

Queen, the downtown Wilmington concert hall where Biden met with staff, played a key role in the 2020 election when Biden hosted events there as the pandemic limited public gatherings and travel. He used the space to hold press conferences and make comments.

The building was originally a 19th-century hotel popular with traveling sailors, according to the site’s website. From 1916 to 1959, it was converted into a cinema, only to be abandoned and fall into disrepair for the next 50 years. Queen reopened in 2011 as a music venue.

After Biden’s appearance, the theater’s website indicates, he will host the bands Cobra Whip, The Stone Eye and Dirty House on Friday.