Joe and Jill Biden to Visit Wildfire-Devastated Lahaina in Hawaii

 Joe and Jill Biden to Visit Wildfire-Devastated Lahaina in Hawaii

By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

In a move aimed at showing solidarity with the residents of Lahaina, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are scheduled to travel to Hawaii next week to witness firsthand the devastating aftermath of the wildfires that swept through the town. The White House confirmed this development on Wednesday as the death toll from the disaster climbed to 110.

The official announcement was made by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who revealed that the presidential visit is set to take place on Monday. The Bidens will be received by state and local leaders upon their arrival in Maui. The primary purpose of the visit is to assess the extensive impact of the wildfires on both human life and the environment. The couple will also engage in discussions with officials regarding the ongoing recovery efforts and future plans for rehabilitation.

Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that President Biden remains steadfast in his commitment to provide comprehensive federal assistance to aid Hawaii’s recovery. She mentioned, ‘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.’

The president’s handling of the wildfire crisis has been met with criticism, particularly from prominent Republicans, including former President Donald Trump. In a video message, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Biden’s response, highlighting the president’s choice to respond with ‘no comment’ when questioned by reporters about the rising death toll during the previous weekend. Trump criticised Biden’s demeanour during this response, considering it insensitive given the tragic circumstances.

The White House, however, defended Biden’s actions, pointing out his consistent communication with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Hawaii's leadership, including Governor Josh Green. While the president addressed the wildfires publicly on Tuesday, he faced further backlash for mistakenly referring to Maui as the ‘Big Island,’ which is an alternate name for the island of Hawaii—the largest of the Hawaiian Islands.

President Biden had previously expressed his intention to visit Hawaii but decided to wait until it was deemed appropriate to avoid disrupting ongoing disaster-relief operations. This trip is seen as an opportunity for the president and first lady to provide their support and condolences to the affected community and assess the situation on the ground directly.