President Joe Biden said “the right things” during his trip to Maui, Hawaii, according to a climate reporter.
On Tuesday, CNN’s chief climate correspondent Bill Weir noted the president spent “several hours” meeting with first responders and survivors.
“He said the right things in many cases when he came to the microphone to give his statements… That he wants the people of Maui to determine how this place is rebuilt,” he continued.
He also noted locals are concerned about “disaster capitalists” buying up land to “rebuild it for their interests,” which Biden promised would not happen.
Weir went on:
“[Biden] did serve as empathizer-in-chief after five days of being mostly silent on the issue publicly, but the governor said he was working behind the scenes to assure first responders that the feds had their back on this. He shared the stories we’re familiar with of losing his daughter and wife and wondering if his sons had survived a car accident early in his career.”
Watch the video below:
CNN’s @BillWeirCNN praises Biden’s Hawaii visit: “He said the right things … He serve[d] as empathizer-in-chief” pic.twitter.com/UOLoQAVBSO
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) August 22, 2023
During his visit, Biden promised, “For the people of Hawaii, we’re with you for as long as it takes, I promise you.”
“The country grieves with you, stands with you and will do everything possible to help you recover and rebuild and respect cultural traditions in the rebuilding taking place,” he added.
The president’s trip comes as the death toll in Maui reached at least 115 people, and hundreds are still missing.
Biden did receive criticism, however, for mentioning a 2004 fire in his Delaware home. During an event, he said, “I don’t want to compare difficulties, but we have a little sense — Jill and I — what it’s like to lose a home.”
“Years ago now — 15 years ago — I was in Washington doing ‘Meet the Press.’ It was a sunny Sunday and lightning struck at home on a little lake that is outside of our home — not on a lake, a big pond,” he went on,” he continued. “And it hit a wire and came up underneath our home into the heating ducts, air conditioning ducts. And to make a long story short, I almost lost my wife, my ’67 Corvette and my cat.”