Delaware
As Joe Biden rides into Delaware sunset, his sunglasses obsession will be his legacy?
Biden to Lincoln: A look back at presidents’ iconic styles
Biden’s dark-tinted sunglasses have been a part of his personal style for so many years that they’re now an inseparable part of his political persona.
STAFF VIDEO, USA TODAY
If you scroll through Joe Biden’s Instagram, past more than 2,900 posts to his very first photo, you’ll find him doing something that’s unmistakably him: wearing aviator sunglasses.
Biden has been known for rocking this iconic look for ages. From the New York Times to GQ, he’s garnered headlines for his obsession with aviators, particularly those made by Ray-Ban.
As Biden rides into sunset after his last day as president, which ends Monday, Jan. 20, here’s a look back at some wild times that shine a light on his love for sunglasses, including storied moments you may not remember, or even know about.
Joe Biden gifted gold sunglasses to Vladimir Putin
One could say Biden gave (but not threw) shade at Russian President Vladimir Putin when he gifted him a pair of custom gold-trimmed aviator sunglasses during the week he met his Russian counterpart for a Switzerland summit held June 16, 2021, according to the Associated Press.
The shades were manufactured by Randolph Engineering, based in Massachusetts, and the sunglasses were trimmed in 23-karat gold and reportedly cost $299.
Jim Carrey impersonates Biden with sunglasses on ‘SNL’
Comedic actor Jim Carrey, who plays the evil Dr. Robotnik in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” had a brief run of parodying Biden on “Saturday Night Live” during the election year in 2020. And Biden’s aviators made a grand cameo. That fall, Carrey made waves when he appeared in a scene that spoofed the infamous fly that landed on the head of then-Vice President Mike Pence during the VP debate between him and Kamala Harris.
In the sketch, a frustrated Biden was at home watching the debate, where he formulated a plan designed to help Harris win. But he had to be careful to avoid getting COVID-19.
“Don’t worry, I’ll wear a mask … on my eyes,” Carrey said, impersonating Biden, wearing a pair of aviators.
Carrey then used a teleportation machine that shrunk him to the size of a bug. He disguised himself as a housefly, while sporting bug-eyed aviator sunglasses. He landed on Pence’s head and acted like he wanted to fight him, uttering the phrase: “Let me at ’em. Let me at ’em!”
Joe Biden does burnout in sunglasses with Jay Leno
It’s not every day you see Biden cruising around in his beloved ’67 Corvette Stingray, which is why it was a treat for Biden supporters when he did so in an episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage” that aired Nov. 9, 2016. Not only that, he did a burnout in the car with Leno as his passenger.
“It feels great, man,” Biden told Leno about driving his beloved Stingray. Although Biden was cautious to say it on TV, he eventually admitted to Leno, “I like speed.”
When the episode aired, Biden was two months away from finishing his second term as vice president under Barack Obama.
Biden said before he married his first wife, Neilia, in August 1967, his dad surprised him with the ’67 Stingray as a wedding gift.
Comic book draws Joe Biden in shades
After Biden’s first year as president, Jill Biden was featured in her own comic book titled “Female Force: Jill Biden,” released on April 7, 2021.
Published by TidalWave Comics, the biographical comic about his wife featured a pandemic scene where Biden is donning his tear-drop aviators with a face mask, while Jill delivered a speech. Even in comic books, Biden was too much of a rebel to show his eyes for an entire book.
Joe Biden rocks sunglasses beside Queen Elizabeth II
When Biden met Queen Elizabeth II on June 13, 2021, he did so with his shades on, which might have been “a potential breach of royal protocol,” according to a report by Newsweek.
The report said Biden was given a Guard of Honor at Windsor Castle and the U.S. national anthem was played. But the 46th U.S. president kept his aviators on as he put his hand up to his chest while standing beside the 95-year-old queen. But the queen reportedly didn’t seem to react badly and shared several moments of laughter.
When did Joe Biden start wearing aviator sunglasses?
It seems as long as folks can remember, Biden has been wearing shades. Delaware’s most famous person began rocking Ray-Ban aviators when he was a teenager, GQ reported in July.
While it’s easy to assume Ray-Ban appreciates the free marketing for their shades from the 82-year-old Biden, it’s unclear whether Ray-Ban ever considered releasing a pair of aviators dedicated to him.
Delaware Online/The News Journal reached out to EssilorLuxottica, the company that owns Ray-Ban, for a comment. But EssilorLuxottica wasn’t available.
Perhaps, EssilorLuxottica is secretly creating a pair of custom Biden shades ahead of the inauguration. But only time will tell.
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission recently announced that the Dewey Beach Police Department and Rehoboth Beach Police Department have both earned state accreditation from the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission.
As part of the rigorous process, a team of DPAC assessors ensured all accreditation standards were met by completing comprehensive, on-site inspections of each agency, reviewing their policies and procedures for compliance, and conducting interviews with department members.
“This milestone represents a significant step forward for public safety in Delaware. The initial state accreditation of these police agencies reflects a strong commitment to professionalism, accountability and excellence in law enforcement. I commend each department for their dedication to serving their communities with integrity and for upholding the highest standards,” said Joshua Bushweller, Department of Safety and Homeland Security secretary and DPAC chair.
Dover, Del. – Three farms, one from each of Delaware’s counties, were inducted into the Century Farm Program by the state Department of Agriculture on Thursday at the Delaware Agricultural Museum.
Each of the family farms has been owned and operated for at least a century. Each received a sign for their farms, an engraved plate and legislative tributes.
In addition to Secretary of Agriculture, Don Clifton, and Deputy Secretary Jimmy Kroon, state Senators David Wilson (R – District 18) and Kyra Hoffner (D – District 14) were also in attendance.
Wright Family Farms are located in Harrington in Kent County. In 1919, the farm was purchased by William Wright. Over a century later, William’s grandson, Ronald, is the owner and his great-grandson, Greg, said he hopes to continue the family legacy by buying the farm from his father.
Although the event celebrated each family for their hard work and resilience, it also highlighted the challenges farmers have to surmount to stay in business today, let alone for a hundred years.
“The price of equipment, the price of fertilizer, the price of seed, everything is just gone up,” Greg said. “So, you know, everything’s going up that we gotta purchase just to stay in business.”
Clifton, Kroon and Wilson also echoed difficulties in balancing the need to preserve agricultural land with the need to develop housing and sustainable energy projects like solar power.
“I know housing is very important, and we want people to always have good housing, but at some point, I think you’re going to saturate the area with more houses than you have food to feed these people,” Wilson said.
Kroon also said there are difficulties in keeping future generations motivated to stay in farming.
“When you think about it in the context of multi-generational farm families, there’s a real long-term challenge where a new generation may think twice about whether they want to keep farming if it’s always a struggle,” he said.
Clifton said farming has always been a challenging way of life, but it has been so since time immemorial.
“These families, their experience shows that they have an appreciation for the way of life and perseverance and that’s to be honored and emulated to the greatest extent possible,” he said.
Greg said he hopes to pass down the way of life so that his family legacy can live on for another hundred years, as well as for other families.
“A hundred years as the same family tilling the land, that’s, you know, that’s an honor right there,” Greg said. “And I hope that more farmers who are close to 100 years old will be doing the same thing. You know, keep it in the family.”
An investigation is underway after police said a man’s body was pulled from the Delaware River in South Philadelphia.
According to police, around 9 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, emergency responders pulled an unidentified man from the Delaware River, near the Navy Yard. Medic’s pronounced the man dead at 9:11 a.m.
Léelo en español aquí.
SkyForce10 flew above as police and other first responders were on the scene.
NBC10
NBC10
Police are working to determine the circumstances of the incident and identify the man.
This is a developing story; check back here for updates.
-
Missouri5 minutes ago
Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for April 18, 2026
-
Montana11 minutes ago
Montana Lottery Powerball, Lotto America results for April 18, 2026
-
Nebraska17 minutes agoGallery: Huskers Run-Rule No. 12 USC to Take Series
-
Nevada23 minutes agoIN RESPONSE: Cortez Masto lands bill would keep the proceeds in Nevada
-
New Hampshire29 minutes agoNew Hampshire grapples with nuclear waste storage – Valley News
-
New Jersey35 minutes agoNearby shooting interrupts 13-year-old’s birthday party in Paterson; 1 killed, 3 injured
-
New Mexico41 minutes agoCalm and warmer conditions move into New Mexico
-
North Carolina47 minutes agoMemorial service held for former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett