President Joe Biden, when questioned about his forthcoming visit to Hawaii in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires in Maui, chose not to provide details. This decision came despite the increasing scrutiny he has faced regarding his response to the disaster, which has tragically claimed over 111 lives. On being probed about his trip, Biden simply replied, “No, not now. I’m going to be leaving, and I’ll be there on Monday,” before departing, leaving several questions from reporters unanswered.
This isn’t the first instance of Biden’s reticence on the matter. Previously, after spending some hours at Rehoboth beach, he responded with “no comment” when asked about the escalating death toll in Lahaina, Maui. This response was later verified through video footage. However, amidst growing criticism, Biden, in a subsequent address, announced his and First Lady Jill Biden’s intentions to visit the affected area. He expressed his desire to ensure the region had all necessary resources and emphasized not wanting to disrupt ongoing recovery operations.
Joe Biden should have gone with, “No comment.” https://t.co/pigB8m6KEW
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) August 17, 2023
Most transparent administration https://t.co/ykUDmsWwdn
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) August 17, 2023
The White House defended Biden’s stance, emphasizing that the administration was employing a “whole-of-government” approach to assist with the wildfires. They stated, “The Biden-Harris Administration has mobilized a robust whole-of-government response effort to support immediate and long-term rescue and recovery efforts in Maui, Hawaii.”
Biden hasn’t been briefed on Hawaii. He thinks he and Jill are going for vacation, no one told him it’s for disaster relief yet. Please leave him alone. https://t.co/pn5ywoWPOs
— Kate Hyde (@KateHydeNY) August 17, 2023
However, Biden’s reluctance to comment did not sit well with many, especially on social media. Several conservative commentators and personalities voiced their criticisms and concerns, with some even humorously suggesting that Biden might be unaware of his impending trip to Hawaii.
