President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Maui, Hawaii, to meet with first responders and survivors of deadly wildfires.
In a statement on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “The President and First Lady will travel to Maui on Monday, August 21 to meet with first responders, survivors, as well as federal, state, and local officials, in the wake of deadly wildfires on the island.”
“In Maui, the President and First Lady will be welcomed by state and local leaders to see firsthand the impacts of the wildfires and the devastating loss of life and land that has occurred on the island, as well as discuss the next steps in the recovery effort,” the statement continued.
The President and First Lady will travel to Maui on Monday, August 21 to meet with first responders, survivors, as well as federal, state, and local officials, in the wake of deadly wildfires on the island.https://t.co/N3rWx3Dbak
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) August 16, 2023
The trip comes after the president has been criticized for his response to the wildfires. Hawaii’s governor said on Tuesday the death toll surpassed 100.
On Sunday, Biden was asked if he had a comment on the death toll, and he responded, “No, no comment.”
"Any comment on the rising death toll in Maui?"
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 14, 2023
BIDEN: "No. No comment." pic.twitter.com/pALPvHK9kM
And on Tuesday, reporters tried to ask him about the death toll as he left the White House. However, he declined to comment.
Biden again SMIRKS as he ignores reporters asking for comment on the rising death toll of the Maui wildfires pic.twitter.com/EYSkUM00e3
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 15, 2023
Later in the day, Biden said, “My wife Jill and I are going to travel to Hawaii as soon as we can. That’s what I’ve been talking to the governor about it. I don’t want to get in the way.”
“I’ve been to too many disaster areas. But I want to go, make sure we got everything they need. I want to be sure we don’t disrupt the ongoing recovery efforts,” he added.