After initially postponing his visit following an attack on former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden is set to travel to Austin on July 29, where he will honor the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the LBJ Presidential Library. This address will be one of Biden's first public appearances since he recently battled COVID-19 and decided to not seek reelection in November, as reported by The Texas Tribune.
The event, which was supposed to take place on July 15 but had to be rescheduled to later in the month, will prominently feature Biden discussing his administration’s "progress advancing civil rights and his vision to ensure the promise of America for all communities," as stated in a previous White House release. The rescheduling came to be necessary after Biden needed to promptly recover from his COVID illness back in Delaware.
Biden's Austin trip bears additional significance as he recently took himself out of the running for the next presidential election, announcing his decision to retire from the race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his preferred successor. His endorsement seems to immediately bolster Harris' campaign, which managed to significantly raise funds, pulling in over $81 million in a single day, according to information obtained by KVUE.
During the upcoming trip, Biden is also expected to be in the district of U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, who notably was the first congressman to publicly call for Biden to step aside. The visit takes on a layer of historical nod, as Lyndon Johnson was the last president who decided not to seek another term back in 1968. There are no clear details at this time if Biden will still attend the fundraiser with Luci Baines Johnson, but the keynote speech will proceed at the library located on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, at 2313 Red River St.
As the city prepares to welcome the president, Austin residents and visitors should brace for possible traffic disruptions. KVUE reports that areas around Red River Street, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and several surrounding streets might experience delays on the day of Biden's visit. The community is hence advised to plan ahead and possibly to seek alternative routes.
