The president and the first lady made their customary Thanksgiving rounds in Massachusetts on Thursday morning, delivering pumpkin pies to police officers, firefighters and medics on Nantucket and calling members of the armed services, continuing a family tradition they have followed since 1975.
While most residents sheltered inside on Thursday as rains swept across the island, President Biden grinned as he walked into the Nantucket fire station, shaking hands and trading baseball caps with the officers on duty while leading his grandson Beau through the hall.
The president reflected at some length on the political climate in the United States, urging Americans to “just remember who we are,” reject overly negative narratives, and be conscious about their news consumption.
Mr. Biden, reflecting on recent public opinion surveys that show majorities of Americans expressing concern about the direction of the country, said he believed that reflected shrinking audiences for traditional news sources and overly dour assessments on TV.
“I think there’s an explanation for that,” he said. “You turn on the television, you don’t see a lot of good news.”
Even while he encouraged Americans to remain optimistic in the face of uncertainty, the president nonetheless anticipated hurdles ahead for President-elect Donald J. Trump. He predicted Mr. Trump may be forced by Congress to moderate some of his proposals, while lightly criticizing some of his successor’s latest ideas.