A Maui resident posted a “Traitor Joe” sign on their front lawn after Biden’s visit — as Oprah Winfrey reveals that Hanes offered to ship 2.5 million pairs of underpants to the island.
Footage shows the owner of a small bungalow on the flame-ravaged Hawaiian island presenting a simple homemade sign that reads, “Traitor Joe Must Go!!”
It comes after Biden’s visit to Maui on Monday drew mixed reactions, as offers from businesses and members of the public to help with supplies pour in.
The official number of missing people rose to 1,100 on Wednesday, with 115 confirmed dead.
Amid growing criticism of the perceived lack of federal support, Biden’s visit would always remain controversial.
Footage shows the owner of a small bungalow on the flame-ravaged Hawaiian island presenting a simple homemade sign that reads, “Traitor Joe Must Go!!”
As his motorcade rolled in, many residents jeered and booed, with some even showing their middle fingers and waving Trump 2024 flags.
Biden did little to endear himself to the traumatized islanders. He gave an extended speech referring to the deaths of his wife and infant daughter in 1972, and later related an anecdote about a 2004 kitchen fire at his Delaware home.
When meeting with one of the rescue workers, Biden, 80, he also made a clumsy joke about needing protective footwear, telling the worker, “Hot ground!”
His appearance at the memorial gave the critics even more ammunition, as many said he appeared to be asleep for nine seconds while looking down.
Meanwhile, Oprah Winfrey said residents are seeing “some improvements” as authorities manage to move many from shelters to hotels.
The 69-year-old talk show host added that clothing brand Hanes had agreed to ship 2.5 million pairs of underwear, even though the islanders only need about 50,000.
Of her latest ventures, Oprah said, “I started the week visiting pop-up shelters where canned goods, clothes, diapers, and other useful items were staffed by a bunch of dedicated community volunteers.
Amid growing criticism of the perceived lack of federal support, President Joe Biden’s visit alongside First Lady Jill Biden would always remain controversial.
Burnt homes and buildings pictured in the aftermath of the wildfires in Lahaina, Maui. The death toll from the fires rose to 96 on Sunday
“At every hub I asked people: tell me what you need.” Oprah said a teacher at one of the hubs told her there was an urgent need for new underwear “in all sizes.”
“I couldn’t find enough stores in all sizes, so I called the Hanes company,” she said. “They said, yes, we are so happy to ship 2.5 million copies to you.
“I said hold on, hold on, that’s a lot of jockey shorts, a lot of panties, a lot of bras.
“Thank you so much for your generosity, but I think we can do with a lot less, maybe 50,000 units will work for now.”
She added that another hub leader told her they needed solar powered generators, which she now wants to ship.
“Each day presents itself with a new set of challenges and obstacles that you have to try to overcome, but from what I have seen and experienced, people’s spirits are still strong and ready to rise,” she said.
People watch as the motorcade passes by carrying President Joe Biden to visit areas devastated by the Maui wildfires. One local gives the president a thumbs down
Winfrey owns some 1,000 acres of land on Maui, but her properties were untouched by the fire — along with vacation homes owned by other ultra-wealthy celebrities, including Jeff Bezos.
Part of its real estate portfolio includes hundreds of acres of land in the Kula area southeast of Lahaina, the beach town devastated by the fires, according to the New York Times.
The death toll from the fires currently stands at 115, but that is expected to rise as search teams scour the remains of Lahaina for human remains.
More than 2,000 properties in the ancient city have been completely destroyed and about 1,200 people are still missing.
On Sunday morning, Winfrey and a CBS camera crew were initially turned away from the shelter and told they couldn’t enter due to a “no media policy.”
Winfrey’s Maui estate in the early 2000s. She owns approximately 1,000 acres in Maui
Oprah is one of many celebrities for whom the island of Maui plays host part-time
The tourist town of Lahaina, home to 12,000 people, was virtually wiped off the map, with thousands of missing persons appearing on lists maintained by various organizations, including the police, Red Cross and shelters.
The FBI had counted 1,100 missing persons on Tuesday and is now working to collect and verify the data with a list to be released later this week, Special Agent Steven Merrill told reporters Tuesday.
“We’re comparing all the lists so we can determine who’s really still missing,” Merrill said.
The FBI has set up a special telephone hotline – (808) 566-4300 – and has encouraged relatives of the missing to contact them.