Biden to Visit New Orleans Monday and Mourn with Grieving Families

President Biden is scheduled to visit New Orleans on Monday to meet with local and state officials, as well as families of victims and others impacted by the tragic terror attack that occurred in the city on January 1, according to the White House.https://wordpress.com/

This visit will mark one of Mr. Biden’s final acts as the nation’s “consoler in chief.” The announcement noted that he will be joined by First Lady Jill Biden.

The attack took place early on New Year’s Day when a man drove a rented pickup truck through a crowded street in New Orleans, where people had gathered to celebrate. The incident claimed the lives of 14 individuals and left dozens injured before the attacker was fatally shot in a confrontation with police.

The victims of the attack included a young mother who had recently earned a promotion at work, a teenager who had snuck out to join the New Year’s celebrations, and a lifelong resident of New Orleans who loved spending time on Bourbon Street, the site of the tragedy.

Authorities identified the perpetrator as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen reportedly inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group. The FBI has classified the incident as an act of terrorism, stating that Jabbar acted alone.

In a televised address from Camp David on Thursday, President Biden expressed his condolences. “To the families of those who lost their lives, to those who were injured, and to all the residents of New Orleans mourning this loss, I grieve with you,” he said. “Our entire nation stands with you in this time of sorrow.”

Throughout his presidency, Mr. Biden has often taken on the somber role of comforting communities in the wake of tragedies or natural disasters. In October, he visited states in the Southeast devastated by Hurricane Helene.

This upcoming visit will be Mr. Biden’s first trip to New Orleans in such a capacity. His last visit to the city was in August, when he announced funding for a cancer treatment project at Tulane University—a cause close to him, given his son Beau’s death from brain cancer in 2015 and his daughter Ashley’s graduation from Tulane.

Presidential visits to New Orleans after major disasters are part of a long-standing tradition. George W. Bush eventually visited the city after facing criticism for not immediately addressing the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. A widely circulated photograph of him peering out the window of Air Force One as it flew over the city symbolized the delayed response. Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest in U.S. history, caused catastrophic flooding, overwhelmed levees, and claimed more than 1,000 lives.

Barack Obama also traveled to New Orleans in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, which released over 200 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, causing extensive environmental and economic damage.

Monday’s visit coincides with the anniversary of the January 6 Capitol attack in 2021. President Biden has consistently acknowledged this day, recently describing it as “a day when America came perilously close to losing itself.”

While Mr. Biden is in New Orleans, Vice President Kamala Harris will oversee the certification of the 2024 presidential election as Senate president. To ensure security, the Capitol Police have increased patrols and road closures around the Capitol.

The visit also coincides with Twelfth Night, marking the start of Carnival season in New Orleans, a time traditionally celebrated with parades and king cake. In light of the recent attack, the New Orleans Police Department has heightened security measures to ensure public safety.