Biden snaps selfie with L.A. mayor, county supervisor
Yes, America, even POTUS snaps the occasional selfie.
President Joe Biden touched down into a gloomy, storm-swamped LAX on Tuesday before climbing onto a helipcoter bound for Monterey Park, where he would unveil an executive order aimed at fighting gun violence and meet with victims and families jolted by the Jan. 21 dance hall attack that left 11 people dead.
The deluge that forecasters had warned about for days arrived on schedule at midday, spoiling any hope for a welcome ceremony, media Q&A or allowing the public to view the landing.
Nonetheless, Biden was greeted by a small scrum of bobbing umbrellas — under which scurried a hastily assembled contingent of local dignitaries, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn and Lunar New Year hero Brandon Tsay, who likely prevented more bloodshed when he disarmed the suspected Starlight Ballroom Dance Studio gunman at his family's nearby Alhambra dance hall.
Undeterred by the downpour, Biden took a brief moment to huddle with the impromptu delegation. Beneath the umbrellas, Biden even paused on the slick tarmac to snag a selfie of himself with rain-soaked Bass and Hahn, using the mayor's cellphone. Bass texted the image to Hahn, whose staff shared the photo with Southern California News Group.
“He offered!” said Liz Odendahl, director of communications for Hahn's office. “And she appreciates now having a photo to capture this moment.”
Rain or shine, Hahn said that it was always a good day to welcome the president to her county.
“I thanked him for his executive order on gun violence,” Hahn said. “In particular, I told him how important I think it is to strengthen our red flag laws and about the work we are doing in Los Angeles County to empower residents to use gun violence restraining orders.”
Biden next took a moment to connect anew with San Marino resident Tsay — whom he declared a hero, called on the phone the day after the Monterey Park attack and then invited him to sit in the First Lady's box during the State of the Union address.
The president's party then scurried to get into their respective vehicles and made their way to his appearance in the San Gabriel Valley.
That meeting, thankfully, was indoors.