In a touching glimpse into her post-White House life, former First Lady Jill Biden has shared an intimate moment with her social media followers. The educator-turned-First Lady posted a photo of the family’s cat, Willow, nestled among moving boxes as they settled into their Delaware residence.
“Best unpacking buddy,” wrote Dr. Biden in her Instagram caption, marking a significant shift from the formal settings of the White House to the more personal space of their Delaware home. This follows her previous holiday post featuring Willow, where she had written, “A season of peace and light – and Willow.”
The Bidens have returned to their familiar surroundings in Delaware, where they own two properties – a 6,850-square-foot home in Greenville and a beach house in Rehoboth Beach. The couple purchased their Greenville residence in 1996, establishing deep roots in the Blue Hen State.
The transition comes after President Biden’s decision not to seek re-election, a move that sparked various reactions from supporters. Some party members acknowledged that age-related concerns influenced the 81-year-old’s step back from presidential duties.
Their feline companion Willow has become a constant presence in their new chapter, particularly notable given the absence of their previous White House pets, Major and Commander. The cat’s prominence in their private life continues a long-standing American presidential tradition of pet ownership, broken only by three presidents throughout history – James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson, and Donald Trump.
The tradition of presidential pets dates back to 1800, when they first roamed the White House lawn during John Adams’ presidency. Throughout history, presidential families have kept an array of fascinating pets. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s family maintained an impressive menagerie, including a bear, lizard, guinea pigs, a pig, a badger, and even a hyena. Their Scottish Terrier, Fala, achieved celebrity status, becoming a movie star.
Some presidents received exotic gifts from foreign leaders, including elephants from the King of Siam and tiger cubs from the Sultan of Oman. More recently, the Clinton White House was home to Socks the cat, while the Bush family had Scottish Terriers named Barney and Miss Beazley, and the Obamas had Portuguese Water Dogs Bo and Sunny.
The public has warmly responded to glimpses of the Bidens’ more private life. One Instagram user commented, “Sweet Willow! enjoy retirement, we will miss you,” while another shared, “Really miss you and President Biden but know you have many more things in your life besides politics.” A third supporter noted, “I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t have a pet especially in the white house! please come back Bidens.”
Looking ahead, the Bidens’ post-White House plans include potential involvement with the Biden Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware.
While Joe Biden has expressed interest in continuing his work on foreign and domestic policy, Jill Biden’s future plans remain open, though her lifelong dedication to education suggests she may return to teaching.
“I’m not going to be out of sight or out of mind,” Joe Biden stated, emphasizing his intention to remain active in public life. This commitment is reflected in his early post-presidency moves, including signing with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which also represents former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. CAA co-chairman Richard Lovett praised Biden’s “lifelong commitment to public service” and expressed that they are “profoundly honored to partner with him again.”
Dr. Biden, who maintained her teaching career at Northern Virginia Community College throughout her time as First Lady, has not yet announced whether she will return to the classroom. However, she plans to continue her advocacy work through initiatives like Joining Forces, the Biden Cancer Moonshot, and the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. The couple also intends to collaborate on children’s books, building on Dr. Biden’s previous publications.
One major project on the horizon is the establishment of a presidential library. While the location hasn’t been announced, it is expected to be built in Delaware.
