President Joe Biden’s visit to Manhattan for a campaign meeting and an interview on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” caused significant traffic disruptions in Midtown on Monday evening. This wasn’t his first recent visit to the city, as he was also in Manhattan earlier in the month for various campaign events, which similarly led to traffic congestion and protests.
Biden flew into JFK Airport before heading to Manhattan around 2 p.m. His departure back to D.C. was scheduled for around 7 p.m. The News 4 Traffic team warned residents to expect delays, detours, and closures throughout NYC, particularly in Lower Manhattan and Midtown.
The president’s motorcade arrived at 30 Rockefeller Plaza around 3:40 p.m. for the taping with Seth Meyers. Streets around Rockefeller Plaza were either closed or had limited access during this time. Biden’s motorcade left 30 Rock around 5:50 p.m.
This visit occurred nearly three weeks after his previous trip to the city, during which blocks of interlocking bicycle racks were used to clear the roads for his motorcade as he attended three fundraisers in four hours.
Despite the inconvenience for Manhattan residents due to street closures, Biden has plans to return to New York for a significant event on March 28. He is scheduled to participate in another fundraiser in the city alongside former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.