The Biden family has welcomed yet another pet to the White House.
On Friday, administration for the White House reported that President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden had finally welcomed a feline friend into their home.
The Biden Family Welcomes A Cat That Shares The Same Name As A Taylor Swift Song!
Say hello to Willow, the First Cat of the United States. Thank you @FLOTUS and @POTUS for honoring your campaign promise. I think she’s beautiful! pic.twitter.com/Zj5EjfmiOl
— Lorenzo The Cat (@LorenzoTheCat) January 28, 2022
The latest pet to join the White House is a gray shorthair tabby cat named Willow. Willow is also the name of a song from Taylor Swift’s ninth studio album, “evermore,” although the cat is not named after the song, despite the singer’s well-known love for cats.
The cat is actually named after the First Lady’s hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. The cat will actually be the first cat to live in the White House since former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush’s black cat India lived there.
NPR reported that it was First Lady Jill Biden who really pushed for the cat’s adoption after the cat interrupted a speech she was giving at a Pennsylvania farm when President Biden was campaigning for the presidential election in 2020.
FIRST PETS BEAT. The Biden cat is (finally) out of the bag. This is Willow Biden. pic.twitter.com/zPNdfRrIeB
— Kelly O’Donnell (@KellyO) January 28, 2022
In a news release, a spokesperson for the First Lady, Michael LaRosa, said, “Willow made quite an impression on Dr. Biden in 2020 when she jumped up on the stage and interrupted her remarks during a campaign stop. Seeing their immediate bond, the owner of the farm knew that Willow belonged with Dr. Biden.”
Although plenty of supporters are elated to see another cat in the White House, plenty of others want to know how Willow is going to get along with Biden’s new puppy!
There’s A New ‘Commander’ In The White House!
On December 20, 2021, The Blast reported that there was a new Commander in the White House! A spokesperson for First Lady Jill Biden confirmed the new addition to the Biden household after the new puppy was spotted playing on the South Lawn of the White House.
Many believe that the dog is a German Shepherd, given Biden’s familiarity with the breed. The new puppy, named Commander, was an early Christmas present to the President from the rest of his family.
On January 2, Biden revealed that Commander had left the White House to take a trip to the beach!
Biden shared the adorable snap of him and Jill walking Commander along the shoreline to Twitter. “Commander enjoyed his first trip to the beach,” he wrote. Although there were not any other people around in the photo, many users questioned Biden’s decision to wear a mask.
Biden Had Two German Shepherds When He Entered The White House
When he first moved into the White House, Biden actually had two German Shepherd dogs. Unfortunately, in June 2021, his faithful companion Champ passed away at the age of 13. Champ had been with the Biden family since 2008.
“Our hearts are heavy today as we let you all know that our beloved German Shepherd, Champ, passed away peacefully at home,” Biden said in a statement. “He was our constant, cherished companion during the last 13 years and was adored by the entire Biden family.”
Biden also has another German Shepherd rescue named Major that does not live at the White House. The three-year-old puppy had first moved into the White House with Biden, but the stress of the move seemed to prove too much for the young pup.
First Dogs Beat. @POTUS Biden with Champ and Major in the Oval Office. (📸 WH) pic.twitter.com/pedNZtIDdO
— Kelly O’Donnell (@KellyO) February 23, 2021
In March 2021, Major made headlines after he bit a member of the Secret Service and a National Park Service worker. After that, President Biden announced that Major was going to be sent back to his home in Wilmington, Delaware for “extensive training” to help him adjust to life inside the White House.
It’s currently unclear if there are any plans to return Major to the White House, especially now that there’s a new cat in the house!
🐾 Hello, hoomans. My name is Willow Biden, I am 2 years old and I just became First Cat. Even though my brother is named Commander and he is bigger than me, I am purrfectly certain I will be in charge. Meoweee! #Willow #COTUS 🐈 pic.twitter.com/7vcBPgVEx6
— The Oval Pawffice® 🇺🇸 DOTUS Fans (@TheOvalPawffice) January 28, 2022