LOS ANGELES (AP) — President Joe Biden proudly embraced a new role on Wednesday as he welcomed the arrival of his great-grandson. His granddaughter, Naomi Biden Neal, and her husband Peter Neal rejoiced as they welcomed their first child, a baby boy, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Named William Brannon Neal IV, the newborn was introduced to the world through an Instagram post shared by First Lady Jill Biden, which featured a heartwarming photo of the president and first lady cradling their precious great-grandson.
President Biden, who was in Los Angeles at the time, took a moment during an official briefing on wildfires in Southern California to share the joyous news of becoming a great-grandfather. “The good news is I’m a great-grandfather as of today,” Biden happily announced.
Following the birth, the President and First Lady spent about 40 minutes visiting Naomi and the newborn at the hospital, as confirmed by the White House. Earlier in the day, Biden had revealed in an interview with USA Today that Naomi was scheduled to undergo a caesarean section.
The Bidens had traveled to Los Angeles from New Orleans, where they had offered condolences to the community in the wake of a tragic vehicle attack on New Year’s Day in the French Quarter. A planned event in California had to be postponed due to ongoing wildfires, which also caused a delay in the President’s announcement regarding new national monuments.
Naomi Biden, aged 31, is the eldest daughter of Hunter Biden and his former wife, Kathleen Buhle. Hunter Biden, now a grandfather, has four other children, including a 4-year-old son named Beau, who has now taken on the role of an uncle to his newborn nephew.
With this latest addition to the family, Joe Biden, at the age of 82, is believed to be the first sitting U.S. president to become a great-grandfather while in office.
Naomi and Peter Neal exchanged vows in November 2022 during a grand White House ceremony, marking the first time a president’s granddaughter had been wed at the iconic venue, and the first outdoor ceremony held on the South Lawn.
The news of Naomi’s pregnancy had been shared on Election Day, November 5, with an Instagram post showcasing her growing belly alongside the caption, “We Voted.”
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This report includes contributions from Superville in Washington and former AP News Researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York.
