Following a summit at Camp David on Friday, President Joe Biden made his way to Nevada to begin his western vacation – including fresh comments on the destruction in Hawaii after he was criticized for his response.
But he won’t see the devastation just yet. He plans to fly to Reno first and then head to Lake Tahoe for a quiet vacation.
After recovering somewhat over the weekend, Biden will travel to Maui on Monday, the White House finally announced this week. This comes as the death toll surpassed 100 and new questions about the response emerged.
He will return later that night and remain at Lake Tahoe through Saturday, according to the White House, which released more details for the trip Friday night.
After being criticized on the beach for not commenting, Biden repeatedly made references to the tragedy.
He spoke at Camp David about the financial contributions from Japan and South Korea announced at the summit, and then boarded Marine One for his voyage to Nevada.
President Joe Biden thanked Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for their countries’ contributions to Hawaii relief. He plans to tour the devastation there on Monday – after beginning his Lake Tahoe vacation
“First, I want to express my appreciation for the contribution your countries have made to alleviating the devastating wildfires in Hawaii.” “I want to thank you both on behalf of the American people,” he said. Biden also said FEMA is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Hilary in Southern California.
On Thursday, during a recorded message aired on ABC’s Good Morning America, he vowed to offer help to Maui “as long as it lasts.”
“The entire nation is with you as you recover, rebuild and mourn,” he said.
The wildfire that broke out in the city of Lahaina on August 8 is now the deadliest in more than a century and the fifth-biggest on record for the United States
“We will be with you for as long as necessary, I promise you,” the president added. He pointed out that the federal government has already taken action to send hundreds of rescue workers and thousands of meals and supplies to the historic tourist city devastated by the flames.
Biden left Camp David early in his westward journey and made his way to Joint Base Andrews
Biden will spend the weekend in Lake Tahoe and then travel to Hawaii on Friday
Biden stressed the importance of Asian allies in the face of China competition
Biden attended the funeral of former Pennsylvania First Lady Ellen Casey on Thursday
About 2,200 buildings were destroyed by the inferno and about 1,300 people are still missing.
Before Biden announced his visit, Republicans compared his lack of a visit to East Palestine, Ohio — where a train derailed and toxic chemicals spilled, displacing hundreds of people. Biden had promised to visit the Ohio city but never did.
“President Biden has completely ignored the people of East Palestine.” Now he’s treating the people of Maui the same way,” R-Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan wrote on X, formerly of Twitter.
Teams are expected to have continued searching the charred debris and have used cadaver dogs to search for survivors.
Hours later, a reporter asked Biden at the White House, “Can you tell us about your trip to Hawaii?”
“No, not now,” Biden said, adding that he would be there on Monday.
This comes as he returned to work on Monday after a weekend at the beach after not commenting on the tragedy that weekend.
According to the White House, the President is scheduled to arrive in Lake Tahoe on Friday, August 18 and remain there until the following Thursday. The visit is now interrupted by the trip to Hawaii.
President Biden returns to the White House Monday from a weekend in Rehoboth Beach and will not answer questions about the Hawaii wildfires
President Biden was silent on the subject.
When he arrived back at the White House Monday afternoon after spending the weekend at his beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware, he did not answer reporters’ questions. During that trip, he was criticized by Republicans for not commenting on the wildfires that killed 96 people.
The President was on his way to the beach with friends when asked about the rising death toll in Hawaii.
“No comment,” he replied.
While previously biking with his wife Jill, he was asked if he was visiting the state.
“We’re looking at it,” he said.
Biden and his team may have felt they had reasons to avoid the press other than dealing with the national tragedy. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Friday that he had appointed David Weiss as special counsel for the investigation into Hunter Biden. Prosecutors said in a filing filed Friday they expected the president’s son’s case to go to court.
Biden was on vacation at Rehoboth Beach for a week earlier this month. He is traveling to Nevada for his second summer vacation.
The topic is the annual joint military exercises of the three nations, but the fight against China and North Korea will also be in focus.
The White House has not said what Biden will do during his time at Lake Tahoe.
During his stay in Rehoboth, he and the first lady went biking, lounged on the beach, and even went on a date to see the movie “Oppenheimer.”
The freshwater Lake Tahoe area is known for its beaches, ski resorts and state parks. In summer it is known for hiking, fishing, boating and golfing. There is also plenty of shopping.
Burned trees and ruined houses are the remains of a fire in Lahaina, Hawaii
Oprah Winfrey visited IDP residences on Maui
Meanwhile, the Hawaii governor warned that the death toll is likely to rise as search parties go street by street through neighborhoods where the blaze has wreaked havoc.
“We are prepared for many tragic stories,” Gov. Josh Green told CBS Mornings. “You’ll probably find 10 to 20 people a day until they’re done.” And it’ll probably take 10 days. It’s really impossible to guess.’
With cell service slowly being restored, the number of missing people has dropped from more than 2,000 to about 1,300, Green said.
Biden agreed to a state of emergency declaration that frees up federal bailout funds and deploys FEMA officers.
But people on the island complain that federal aid is still pending.
“The response from our well-funded, tax-paying government is incredibly pathetic,” said Paul Romero, who owns a gym in Kihei.
He told the New York Times, “We can’t even understand what they did, what they didn’t do, what they still don’t do.”
The fire that swept across Lahaina nearly a week ago destroyed almost every building in the town of 13,000 and left the coastal town in ruins. According to the district, the fire was contained by 85%. Another fire, known as the “Upcountry Fire,” has been 60% contained, officials told the Associated Press.
Damage was estimated at $5.6 billion.
The damage from the wildfire is estimated at $5.6 billion
The governor of Hawaii has warned the death toll from the devastating fires could rise
Many people gathered at War Memorial Gymnasium in Wailuku, which served as housing. Among those in attendance was Oprah Winfrey, who told Hawaii News Now that she had been delivering toiletries, towels and water for the past few days.
The cause of the wildfires is under investigation, but the dry summer and winds from passing hurricanes fueled the blazes that swept across Maui.