After issuing "no comment" from the beach in Delaware about the complete devastation of Maui after a fire ripped through the historic town of Lahaina, killing potentially thousands, President Joe Biden is cutting his latest Lake Tahoe vacation short to visit the island.
"My heart, my prayers, and my focus are on the victims of the Maui wildfires and their families. I know how profoundly loss can impact a family and a community and I know nothing can replace the loss of life. I will do everything in my power to help Maui recover and rebuild from this tragedy. And throughout our efforts, we are focused on respecting sacred lands, cultures, and traditions," Biden released in a statement Sunday.
REPORTER: "Can you tell us about your Hawaii trip, sir?"
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 17, 2023
BIDEN: "No. Not now." pic.twitter.com/TkRKQWJomL
"From day one we immediately authorized three Fire Management Assistance Grants and as soon as Governor Green requested a Major Disaster Declaration, I signed it. My Administration has mobilized a whole-of-government response effort with more than 1,000 federal personnel on the ground in Maui, including nearly 450 search and rescue team members," he continued. "Jill and I are eager to meet with the brave first responders in Lahaina tomorrow, to spend time with families and community members, and witness firsthand what will be required for the community to recover. We will be here as long as it takes for Maui."
Joe Biden has "no comment" on the hardship and devastation these Americans have seen firsthand.
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 14, 2023
His smirk while on vacation says it all. pic.twitter.com/oCdHoeZTTe
Recommended
Hundreds of people, many of them children, as still unaccounted for.
"There are potentially 1,000 people who have perished in [the Maui wildfires]. How can we not know more about this, this many days out?"
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 20, 2023
Biden FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell: "There's a lot of different reasons on why people are unaccounted for." pic.twitter.com/x38YnzM5nH
REPORTER: "How does the White House respond to critics who have suggested that the president should not have been vacationing at the beach
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 14, 2023
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: "He has mobilized a whole of government approach here...The president has also committed to being there...for as long… pic.twitter.com/SfM3DFfCb4
Join the conversation as a VIP Member