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Mr. Biden’s trip to New Orleans, his latest as “consoler in chief,” joins a lengthy history of presidential visits to a city that has seen more than its share of tragedies and disasters.
Jan. 6, 2025Updated 5:23 p.m. ET
In one of his final acts as “consoler in chief,” President Biden arrived in New Orleans on Monday to meet with the families of victims of the deadly terror attack that occurred on New Year’s Day.
The president, who was accompanied by the first lady, Jill Biden, will attend a prayer service on Monday evening hosted by the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
In the early hours of Jan. 1, a man sped a pickup truck through Bourbon Street, which was packed with partygoers who were inaugurating the new year. He killed 14 people and injured dozens more before he died in a shootout with police officers.
The authorities have identified the attacker as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen who they said was inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group. The F.B.I. has classified the attack as an act of terrorism and said he was believed to have acted alone.
Among the victims of the attack were a young mother who had just received a promotion at work, a teenager who had sneaked out to celebrate the new year, and a lifelong city resident who loved spending time on Bourbon Street, where the attack occurred.
The Biden administration has pledged extra security, including field intelligence teams and bomb-sniffing dogs, over the next few months in New Orleans as tourists arrive in the city for major events. Mardi Gras celebrations began on Monday and are scheduled to last through early March. New Orleans will also host the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.
