President Joe Biden headed to Nevada for the start of a western vacation after a summit on Friday at Camp David — including new comments about the destruction in Hawaii after being criticized for his response.
But he will not yet see the devastation. He plans to fly to Reno first and travel on to Lake Tahoe, where he has planned a quiet vacation.
After getting some R&R over the weekend, Biden is heading to Maui on Monday, the White House finally announced this week. That came as the death toll hit 100, amid new questions about the response.
He will return that night and stay in Lake Tahoe until Saturday, according to the White House, which released more details for the trip Friday evening.
After being criticized for his “no comment” while on the beach, Biden has repeatedly referred to the tragedy.
He spoke at Camp David about the financial contributions from Japan and South Korea announced at the summit, after which he boarded Marine One to make his way to Nevada.
President Joe Biden thanked Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for their countries’ contributions to aid to Hawaii. He plans to tour devastation there on Monday — after starting a Lake Tahoe vacation
“I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation for the contribution your countries have made to the relief effort following the devastating wildfires in Hawaii. I want to thank you both on behalf of the American people,” he said. Biden also said that FEMA was preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Hilary in Southern California.
On Thursday, he promised to offer Maui assistance “as long as it is needed” in a taped message that aired on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
“The whole nation is behind you as you recover, rebuild and grieve,” 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 deadliest on record for the US.
“We will be with you as long as it takes, I promise you,” the president added. He noted that the federal government has already taken action to send hundreds of emergency workers and thousands of meals and supplies to the flame-ravaged historic tourist town.
Biden left Camp David for the trip to Joint Base Andrews at the start of his journey west
Biden will spend the weekend in Lake Tahoe and head to Hawaii on Friday
Biden underscored the importance of Asian allies amid competition from China
Biden attended a funeral for 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 visits to eastern Palestine, Ohio — where a train derailed and spilled toxic chemicals, displacing hundreds of people. Biden had promised to visit the Ohio city, but never did.
President Biden completely ignored the people of eastern Palestine. Now he is giving the people of Maui the same treatment,” wrote Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, on X, formerly Twitter.
Crews are expected to continue to search the charred debris and have deployed 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 Monday.
That came as he returned to work on Monday after a weekend at the beach, after avoiding comment on this weekend’s tragedy.
The president is scheduled to arrive in Lake Tahoe on Friday, Aug. 18, and remain there until the following Thursday, during a visit now interrupted by the trip to Hawaii, per White House guidelines.
President Biden returns to the White House Monday from a weekend at Rehoboth Beach and did not answer questions about the Hawaii wildfires
President Biden remained silent on the matter.
He did not answer reporters’ questions when he returned to the White House Monday afternoon after spending the weekend at his beach house in Rehobobo, Delaware. During that trip, he was criticized by the Republican for not commenting on the wildfires that killed 96 people.
The president was on his way to the beach with friends when he was asked about the rising death toll in Hawaii.
“No comment,” he replied.
Earlier, when he was cycling with wife Jill, he was asked if he would visit the state.
“We’re looking at it,” he said.
Biden and his team may have thought they had other reasons to avoid the press rather than address the national tragedy. On Friday, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that he had designated David Weiss as the special prosecutor investigating Hunter Biden. Prosecutors said in a filing Friday that they expected the case of the president’s son to go to trial.
Biden vacationed on Rehoboth Beach for a week earlier this month. He goes to Nevada for his second vacation of the summer.
The subject is the annual joint military exercises between the three nations, but the focus will also be on countering China and North Korea.
The White House has not said what Biden will do during his time in Lake Tahoe.
While in Rehoboth, he and the first lady rode bikes, sat on the beach, and even had a date night where they watched the movie “Oppenheimer.”
The Lake Tahoe freshwater area is known for its beach, ski resorts, and state parks. In the summer it is known for hiking, fishing, boating and golf. There are also plenty of places to shop.
Burnt trees and the ruins of homes are what remains after a fire that raged through Lahaina, Hawaii
Oprah Winfrey visited displaced homes in Maui
Meanwhile, Hawaii’s governor warned that the death toll is likely to rise as search teams move street-by-street through neighborhoods where the flames wreaked havoc.
“We are prepared for a lot of tragic stories,” Governor Josh Green told CBS Mornings. “They’ll probably find 10 to 20 people a day, until they’re done.” And it’s probably going to take 10 days. It’s actually impossible to guess.’
While cell phone service has slowly been restored, the number of missing people fell from more than 2,000 to about 1,300, Green said.
Biden approved one state emergency declaration, which releases federal bailout funds, and sending FEMA officials.
But those on the island are beginning to complain that federal aid is yet to come.
“The response from our well-funded, tax-paid government is incredibly pathetic,” said Paul Romero, a gym owner 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 through Lahaina nearly a week ago destroyed nearly every building in the city of 13,000 and left a mountain of rubble in the resort town. That fire is 85% under control, according to the province. Another blaze, known as the Upcountry fire, is 60% contained, officials told the Associated Press.
There is an estimated $5.6 billion in damage.
There is an estimated $5.6 billion in damage from the wildfire
Hawaii’s governor has warned that the death toll could rise from devastating fires
Many people have gathered at the War Memorial Gymnasium in Wailuku, which has served as a shelter. Among the visitors was Oprah Winfrey, who told Hawaii News Now she has provided personal hygiene productstowels and water in recent days.
The cause of the wildfires is under investigation, but the dry summer and winds from passing hurricanes fanned the flames, which swept across Maui.