President Biden's New Orleans visit: Schedule and road closures
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President Biden and first lady Jill Biden return to the White House on Jan. 2. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Biden is visiting New Orleans on Monday to grieve with the families of the Bourbon Street terrorist attack on the same day the city marks the start of the Mardi Gras season.
Why it matters: The ISIS-inspired truck attack killed 14 people and injured dozens more.
The big picture: First Lady Jill Biden will accompany the president, the White House said.
- Mayor LaToya Cantrell said she and Gov. Jeff Landry are scheduled to talk with him about security efforts in the city.
The schedule: Air Force One is expected to depart from Joint Base Andrews around 12:45 pm Central, according to Roll Call.
- The Bidens are expected to land at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport around 3:30pm.
- They will then travel to the French Quarter, where they will attend a public prayer service at 6pm at St. Louis Cathedral, the White House says.
- They are expected to fly out of MSY around 8pm on their way to Los Angeles.
What he's saying: Biden said he will deliver a "personal" message to the loved ones of the victims if he is able to meet with them alone, according to Reuters.
- "They just have to hang on to each other," the report said.
Zoom in: It's also Twelfth Night, which is the official start of the Mardi Gras season in New Orleans.
- Multiple parades are scheduled Monday, including the Joan of Arc procession.
- Carnival culminates on Mardi Gras, which is March 4 this year. See the parade schedule.
Zoom in: Expect road closures on Monday.
- When Biden visited over the summer, he landed at Louis Armstrong International Airport and there were rolling closures on Interstate 10 while his motorcade was traveling to the city.
- Onramps and surface roads under the interstate also have been closed during previous visits, along with roads around the destination.
What we're watching: Biden stopped at Drago's in Metairie during his last visit to New Orleans. Will this visit include a side trip?
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details about Biden's schedule.
Go deeper:
- The victims of the Bourbon Street attack
- How to help after the Bourbon Street attack
- Terror attack suspect visited New Orleans during Halloween, FBI says
- New Orleans leaders face questions over preventability of terror attack
- New Orleans parades to be "a light in the darkness" after terror attack
- Who is Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man the FBI says planned New Orleans terror attack?