U.S. President Joe Biden in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In a significant turn of events, U.S. President Biden has finally spoken out about the devastating wildfires that have ravaged parts of Hawaii. However, his address was not without its moments of confusion and a sense of urgency.
The island of Maui, which bore the brunt of the disaster, seemingly slipped the president’s memory during his speech.
Notably, he admitted that he usually prefers keeping his speeches concise but felt compelled to extend his remarks given the gravity of the situation.
Silence Breaks Amid Criticism: Backlash Over Initial Response
Biden’s initial silence drew considerable backlash, especially after spending Sunday on the beach and responding with a mere “no comment” when questioned by reporters about the unfolding fires.
The death toll, having now claimed the lives of at least 99 people, marks this as the deadliest wildfire outbreak in the United States in over a century.
Milwaukee Address Takes a Turn: Shifting Focus to Hawaii
The president’s address took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was scheduled to discuss his economic agenda. However, he veered off-script from the teleprompter and directed his focus towards Hawaii.
“I apologize because I try very hard to keep my speeches between 15 and 18 minutes, but I got to talk a little bit about Hawaii,” expressed Biden.
The 80-year-old then detailed the federal aid efforts directed towards the wildfire victims, spotlighting the notable inclusion of a one-time grant of $700 from FEMA.
Aid Efforts and Collaborative Endeavors
Alongside this, he lauded the diligent contributions of the Coast Guard, Navy, and Army in their collaborative efforts towards rescue and containment operations.
Biden’s mention of Hawaii displayed a momentary lapse in his geographical awareness. He commended the Army’s role in fire suppression on the Big Island, confusing it with Maui, which has been significantly impacted by the fires.
“The Army helicopters helped fire suppression efforts on the Big Island because there’s still some burning on the Big Island — not the one that, not the one where you see on television all the time,” he said, confusing Hawaii, which is also known as the Big Island, and Maui.
This oversight echoed a degree of similarity to former President George W. Bush’s response during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, where praise for FEMA overshadowed the dire aftermath faced by affected communities.
Personal Visit Plans and Ongoing Recovery
“My wife Jill and I are going to travel to Hawaii as soon as we can,” he said.
“That’s what I’ve been talking to the governor about. 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. Want to be sure we don’t disrupt the ongoing recovery efforts,” he added.
The president’s initial lack of response elicited disappointment among his supporters, including former Hawaii lawmaker Kaniela Ing. In a tweet, Ing voiced his dissatisfaction, “I campaigned for you. Now, when I lose dozens of my friends, family, and neighbors. This?”
Even the White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, did not escape a series of embarrassing blunders. In an attempt to defend Biden’s handling of the situation, she inadvertently mispronounced the names of Hawaii’s Democratic senators. Senator Mazie Hirono was referred to as “Harino,” and gender pronouns were confused, referring to Senator Brian Schatz as “Senator Shorts, Shwots, Sharts, Schatz.”
As the wildfire crisis unfolds, it presents an ongoing challenge for the Biden administration. Urgent and effective action is required to alleviate the widespread devastation that has struck Hawaii’s communities.
