Here’s what to know about President Joe Biden’s visit to Durham, NC on Tuesday
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President Joe Biden plans to visit Durham Tuesday to launch his Investing in America Tour.
The three-week tour across the country is meant to highlight how the Biden administration’s economic policies are helping Americans and what is at stake if Republicans repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, according to White House officials.
A presidential visit always brings excitement to a city but it also tends to increase police presence, snarl traffic and in Biden’s case, cause crowds near local ice cream stores.
READ MORE: As Biden visits, the Durham chip manufacturer Wolfspeed sees the sky as the limit
We break down what you need to know before Biden comes to town.
Location and timing for Biden’s visit
Where: The president plans to visit Wolfspeed, located at 4407 Silicon Drive. The company manufactures and sells chips made out of a semiconducting material called silicon carbide.
When: Air Force One arrives at Raleigh-Durham International Airport at 12:45 p.m. Biden tours Wolfspeed at 1:25 p.m. and speaks at 2:30 p.m. He flies out at 3:50 p.m.
Who else: Gov. Roy Cooper said he would join Biden on Tuesday.
What is Wolfspeed?
The company: Wolfspeed is the world’s leading producer of silicon carbide, which the company turns into thin blank chips called wafers. Wolfspeed then sells these wafers to other chip manufacturers or turns them into chips themselves. In the past year, Wolfspeed has announced it will build two new factories — in Chatham County and in Germany — to meet the rising demand for its chips, which are used in products like electric vehicles, solar panels, and HVAC systems.
The name: The company operated under the name Cree until 2021. All but one of Wolfspeed’s founders graduated from North Carolina State University, and they honored their alma mater in the name.
What will Biden talk about?
Remarks: White House officials said Biden will discuss his administration’s work to create job growth, invest $300 billion into the private sector across the country, improve infrastructure, and boost manufacturing to strengthen supply chains and national security.
Policy: Last summer, Congress passed and Biden signed a bill that includes $52 billion for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, known as the CHIPS Act. Wolfspeed CEO Gregg Lowe has previously indicated the company will pursue this funding.
“The application window for Wolfspeed projects has not officially opened yet, so we’re not quite ready to discuss any plans,” said company spokesperson Brianna Reeder in an email to The News & Observer. “We can say that Wolfspeed is eager to collaborate with its partners in the federal government to help secure our supply chains, boost economic activity, and support national security.”
Biden visiting NC
What do Americans think? Biden’s visit comes as his approval rating hovers at 38%, according to The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released polling last week. That’s just above his all-time low of 36% recorded last July.
When did Biden last visit North Carolina? Biden last visited North Carolina in November. He met with service members and their families for a “Friendsgiving” meal at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.
Why do we bring up ice cream? Biden has a sweet tooth and tends to visit local ice cream shops. He most recently got ice cream with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. On a previous visit to Durham, he and his granddaughter stopped at Cook Out, home to 40 flavors of milkshake. He even named the turkeys he pardoned this past Thanksgiving — who came from North Carolina and still live here — after his favorite flavor.
This story was originally published March 27, 2023 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Here’s what to know about President Joe Biden’s visit to Durham, NC on Tuesday."
