Consoler in Chief: President Joe Biden Visits Lewiston Friday

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will go to Lewiston Friday to visit with first responders and victims of the shootings that left 18 people dead.

"The President and First Lady will pay respects to the victims of this horrific attack and grieve with families and community members, as well as meet with first responders, nurses, and others on the front lines of the response," reads a statement from the White House.

According to the president's schedule, they will arrive on board Air Force One at Brunswick Executive Airport around 2:30 p.m., and they travel via helicopter to Lewiston. President Biden will then meet with first responders before delivering a short speech. They will meet privately for nearly two hours with the families of the victims before leaving Lewiston around 7:30 p.m.

Exact locations for the president's visit were not disclosed.

“I deeply appreciate President Biden’s unwavering support of us in the wake of last week’s horrific tragedy. By visiting us in our time of need, the President and First Lady are making clear that the entire nation stands with Lewiston and with Maine - and for that I am profoundly grateful," Maine Governor Janet Mills said in a statement. She will accompany the president on his visit.

Biden visited Auburn in July to promote manufacturing and his "Bidenomics" economic agenda.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via X (Twitter) @DanAlexanderNH