President Biden in Utah

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President Joe Biden arrived in Utah on Wednesday afternoon, hours after a Provo man who had made repeated violent threats against the president was killed by FBI agents.

Air Force One landed at the Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City, less than 50 miles from Provo, at 4:24 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Military personnel were there to greet the president.

The president was joined by over a dozen White House staffers, including press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and national climate adviser Ali Zaidi. Biden is in Utah to deliver a speech on veterans health and attend a campaign fundraiser Thursday.

Upon stepping out of the plane’s door, Biden waved at the dignitaries and media awaiting him on the tarmac. He walked down the stairs and saluted Maj. Gen. Michael J. Turley, Adjutant General, Utah Joint Force Headquarters, Utah Air National Guard; and Col. Robert Taylor, Wing Commander, 151st Air Refueling Wing, Utah Air National Guard.

He then greeted Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, first lady Abby Cox, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, with whom he interacted for several minutes before boarding a black limousine at 4:41 p.m. alongside the Coxes, Mendenhall and Wilson and departed the runway.

The president’s limousine was flanked by a motorcade of over a dozen vehicles, including Utah Highway Patrol and unmarked SUVs.

Biden will deliver remarks Thursday morning, the one-year anniversary of the PACT Act. The president’s speech — at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center — is expected to discuss the PACT Act’s health care benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

On Thursday afternoon, Biden will participate in an invite-only campaign fundraiser in Park City. He will return to Washington after the speech.

More in Politics

Man killed by FBI who made social media threats toward Biden was older, had limited mobility, neighbors say

A man who neighbors described as being 75 years old with limited mobility and whose frequent politically charged social media posts included threats toward President Joe Biden is dead after FBI agents attempted to serve a search warrant at his Provo home, hours ahead of the president’s arrival in Utah.

Neighbors confirmed to the Deseret News the man killed was Craig Robertson, saying he is an older, overweight man who walks with a cane.

A Facebook account which neighbors said belonged to Robertson showed multiple posts threatening violence against Biden during his visit to Utah, including asking whether the state will become famous “as the place a sniper took out Biden the Marxist” and urging Utahns to fire their guns into the air when Air Force One arrives.

Robertson also posted a message directed at the FBI on July 27 and shared it again two days ago, saying “Hey FBI, you still monitoring my social media? Checking so I can be sure to have a loaded gun handy in case you drop by again.”

The page, which appears to have been taken down Wednesday afternoon, contained politically charged posts made almost daily expressing outrage at Democrats, especially Biden and his family, for months.

Read a summary of Robertson's social media posts and the charges brought against him here.

Read our exclusive, on-the-ground reporting at the scene, including interviews with the neighbors who saw the events play out, here:

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