In response to accusations that he has been too silent about the deadliest such tragedy in modern U.S. history, President Biden will visit Maui on Monday to examine the destruction inflicted by flames that ripped through part of the island last week.
More than a week after quickly spreading wildfires burned the ancient town of Lahaina on the island of Maui and forced thousands of residents to flee, the White House confirmed the trip on Wednesday. Although more than 100 deaths have been officially reported, officials warn that the actual number of fatalities due to the wildfires will probably be far higher.
The White House announced that Jill Biden, the first lady, will go to Maui with the president. According to a statement from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, they will meet with state and local leaders, emergency personnel, and survivors to discuss the recovery effort’s next steps.
“The President continues to marshal a whole-of-government response to the deadly Maui fires, and he has committed to delivering everything that the people of Hawaii need from the federal government as they recover from this disaster,” said Jean-Pierre in a statement.
The president and first wife will visit Hawaii as soon as possible to assess the damage, but President Biden said on Tuesday that he didn’t want a presidential visit to “get in the way” of the recovery work on Maui.
Prior to then, Biden had not discussed the destruction in public since last Thursday, when he showed support for the wildfire victims and promised that “every asset we have will be available to them.” On Sunday, Biden turned down a reporter’s inquiry regarding the death toll, which was at that point 93, while on vacation in Delaware.
White House aides noted that the president has been in contact with Hawaii Governor Josh Green (D), Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell, and both of Hawaii’s senators, Mazie Hirono (D) and Brian Schatz (D), since last week when he signed an emergency declaration and ordered federal resources to be sent to Maui.
Republicans, on the other hand, have criticized Biden for generally avoiding the media since he showed support for the victims on Thursday and for responding “no comment” when questioned about the death toll on Sunday.
On Monday night, the former president’s campaign sent a video message expressing compassion for those impacted while also criticizing Biden’s response.
Trump wrote in the message, “To say no comment is frequently acceptable, but to be smiling when you say it, especially against such a tragedy as this, is absolutely horrible and unacceptable.”
According to the White House, more than 380 FEMA employees were on the ground as of Tuesday, and the disaster organization has given the county government more than 50,000 meals, 75,000 liters of water, 5,000 cots, and 10,000 blankets for distribution.
Biden tweeted on Monday that the government is working with community-led organizations to contact all inhabitants regardless of language or other obstacles and that FEMA is providing temporary shelter in hotels and motels, enrolling residents for a $700 per household payout for survivors, and providing temporary shelter in hotels and motels.
