President Joe Biden kicked off the Thanksgiving holiday week with a visit to naval installations in Norfolk, Virginia. Accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, the president introduced an early screening of the upcoming movie “Wonka” at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads. The film, centered around the early life of Willy Wonka, the fictional eccentric chocolatier created by Roald Dahl, is set to be officially released on December 15th.

During the event, President Biden joked with the young audience, expressing his fondness for children, stating, "I like kids more than adults. I wish I could stay and watch Wonka with you." However, instead of staying for the movie, the Bidens joined service members and their families at Norfolk Naval Station for a special “Friendsgiving” meal. They helped serve dinner to service members from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USS Gerald R. Ford.

In his speech before the meal, President Biden expressed his gratitude to the military, describing them as the "literal backbone of this country." He acknowledged the sacrifices made by the military personnel and their families, stating, "1% of you, only one, defend 99% of us." The event took place in a concrete-floored hangar, with hundreds of attendees seated in folding chairs and around wooden, circular tables. The venue was adorned with a display of a Blackhawk helicopter, a towering American flag, and a screen featuring the image of the White House surrounded by falling leaves and the words "Happy Thanksgiving."

For the dinner, President Biden served mashed potatoes while attendees lined up for the buffet-style meal. First Lady Jill Biden spooned out sweet potato casserole to the guests. The menu featured a slow-roasted bourbon-brined turkey topped with giblet gravy and cranberry-orange compote, maple-mustard glazed spiral-cut smoked ham, brioche-cornbread stuffing, candied walnuts, roasted garlic and creme fraiche, and a toasted espresso mascarpone with Chantilly cream.

While President Biden was in Virginia, his 2024 Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, was scheduled for a military visit in Texas. Trump, who currently leads the 2024 Republican primary, was in Edinburg serving meals to National Guard soldiers, troopers, and others stationed at the U.S.-Mexico border over Thanksgiving. Trump used the opportunity to promote his hard-line immigration proposals, criticizing the Biden administration's approach to border security.

The Bidens' support for the military holds a personal connection, as their late son Beau served in Iraq as a member of the Delaware National Guard. During the Wonka event, Jill Biden mentioned Beau's deployment, acknowledging the challenges faced by military families. She said, "While nothing can make up for that empty chair at the table, for us, the kindness of our community and finding moments of joy helps make it a little bit easier."

As President Biden prepared to celebrate Thanksgiving with the troops, he was also dealing with pressing international issues, such as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and the fate of hostages, including Americans, held by militants in Gaza. When asked about the release of hostages, Biden replied, "I'm not in a position to tell you that."

During their visit, the Bidens received the news of former first lady Rosalynn Carter's passing. They announced her death before serving the Friendsgiving meal and asked the diners to include the Carter family in their prayers. Jill Biden praised Carter's efforts on mental health, caregiving, and women's rights.

The president, visibly emotional, briefly talked about watching his son Beau's children while he was deployed. However, overcome with emotion, he chose not to continue, stating, "I don't want to talk about this." Nevertheless, he quickly regained his composure and engaged with a 6-year-old, jokingly asking, "What are you, 17?"

Before concluding his speech, President Biden wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving and expressed his love for the American people, stating, "May God love you all." Friendsgiving with the military has become a tradition for the Bidens. In the previous year, they served mashed potatoes and other sides in Cherry Point, North Carolina, to military personnel and their families. This year, they visited Fort Bragg in North Carolina, where they shared an early Thanksgiving meal with approximately 250 service members and their families, also gifting them chocolate chip cookies bearing the presidential seal.

Following their military engagements, the Bidens plan to spend Thanksgiving on Nantucket, a Massachusetts island. Meanwhile, Donald Trump's visit to Texas also includes a military event.