Naomi Biden's White House wedding was timed to divert attention from Biden's age as he turns 80, source tells CNN

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Naomi Biden's White House wedding was timed to divert attention from Biden's age as he turns 80, source tells CNN
President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, granddaughter Naomi Biden and fiance Peter Neal walk to the White House from Marine One on June 20, 2022 in Washington, DC.Pete Marovich/Getty Images
  • President Joe Biden's granddaughter is getting married this weekend at the White House.
  • The closely-watched event coincides with Biden's landmark 80th birthday on Sunday.
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Two major Biden family milestones are hitting the White House this weekend: the wedding of Naomi Biden on Saturday, and President Joe Biden on Sunday becoming the first president to turn 80 in office.

Sources told CNN that the timing is no coincidence, and the two are likely happening at once to avoid excessive focus on Biden's role as America's oldest-ever leader.

Naomi Biden, 28, is due to marry Peter Neal on the South Lawn of the White House, the first time in nine years such a ceremony has taken place. Guests will likely still be celebrating as midnight comes and Biden's birthday begins.

Two sources familiar with the wedding plans spoke to CNN, and characterized the proceedings as a way to distract from Biden's age, a source of recurring criticism from political opponents.

"The wedding gives some cover," said one of the sources.

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According to the report, the Biden family are also due to gather over Thanksgiving weekend to discuss whether the president should seek a second term in office.

Biden has indicated that he intends to run, but has not made a formal declaration of his 2024 candidacy.

Naomi Biden is the daughter of Hunter Biden and Katherine Huhle and is Biden's eldest grandchild.

The last wedding to be held at the White House was White House photographer Pete Souza's in 2013. 18 weddings and four receptions have been held in the executive residence since 1800.

Correction: November 18, 2022 — An earlier version of this story misstated the name of Naomi Biden's fiancé.

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