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Russia's PM took a jab at Biden's Christmas vacation, saying the Kremlin is still hard at work

Dec 28, 2023, 21:38 IST
Business Insider
President Joe Biden and his family climb down the stairs of Air Force One on December 27, 2023, after arriving on the US Virgin Island of St. Croix for a vacation.Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo
  • President Joe Biden had vacations scheduled for most of the time from December 23 to January 2.
  • Republicans said the trip was too long — and on Thursday, Russia's prime minister joined in.
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President Joe Biden's Christmas break drew a jab from Moscow on Thursday.

Mikhail Mishustin, the Russian prime minister, quipped that his government, unlike the White House, "is working without weekends," per Russia's state-owned RIA Novosti news outlet.

The service reported that the line was a response to the "holiday mood" in the Biden administration.

Biden's schedule has him mostly off work from December 23 until January 2.

The president left the White House on Saturday, December 23, to spend Christmas at Camp David in Maryland.

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He returned on December 26, then left again on December 27 for St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, where he is staying until after New Year's Day.

The White House gave few details of Biden's activity after December 24. It said he received his daily briefing on December 25, 26, and 27 but did not mention it in the schedule for December 28.

Reporters said Biden took part in NORAD's Santa-tracking calls on December 24, spoke to US troops abroad on December 25, and had a call with the ruler of Qatar on December 26.

Per The New York Times, the White House declined to say whether Biden had any work scheduled in St. Croix. The paper reported that a "handful" of staff, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, were joining him on the trip.

Mishustin is the official in charge of running Russia's government day to day, and answers directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Putin and Mishustin seemed active in recent days, making announcements and holding meetings.

Business Insider couldn't immediately find any information on their plans for the coming days — New Year's Day tends to be a more significant holiday for Russians than Christmas.

Biden also attracted domestic criticism for his trips.

Republican Party social-media channels, as well as individual lawmakers like Reps. Jim Jordan and Wesley Hunt, plus a host of conservative news outlets, made critical posts about him.

Mishustin's remark is not the only time the Kremlin and GOP have appeared in sync in attacking the Biden administration.

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The dynamic became most prominent earlier in December when Republicans rejected Biden's calls for them to approve more aid for Ukraine.

Biden remarked on it, saying that having a common goal with Russia should be cause to reconsider:

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