President Joe Biden said “no comment” in response to a question about the rising death toll in Hawaii’s wildfires earlier this month, drawing widespread criticism, particularly from Republicans who accused him of being insensitive.
Yet, the White House issued an explanation more than 10 days later, indicating that the president had never heard the question when he responded “no comment” before getting into his car.
“He didn’t hear the question,” Ms. Dalton said on Aug. 24. “He absolutely didn’t say ‘no comment’ in relation to Maui. And in fact, he had already spoken to the nation about Maui at that point, in addition to being in daily contact with senior staff, FEMA, and state officials as he marshaled a whole-of-government response to the fires.”
The devastating fire that ravaged the Hawaiian island of Maui began on Aug. 8 and is believed to be the deadliest in the United States in over a century. The death toll has surpassed 110, but officials estimate that there are still approximately 1,000 people missing.
The White House has not responded to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.
On Aug. 21, the president and First Lady Jill Biden traveled to Maui to assess the damage caused by deadly wildfires and speak with survivors and first responders.
President Biden pledged that his administration and the whole nation will be with the Hawaiian people “as long as it takes.”
During his visit, however, Biden compared the Maui fires to a kitchen fire at his house 15 years ago, drawing yet another round of criticism.
“I don’t want to compare difficulties, but we have a little sense, Jill and I, of what it’s like to lose a home,” he said, recounting how a lightning bolt struck a nearby pond and sparked a fire at his house.
“To make a long story short, I almost lost my wife, my ‘67 Corvette, and my cat,” President Biden said.
Leslie Santos, a retired university administrator and a native of Maui, reacted to the president’s comments.
“I am so disappointed in Biden—and I am a Democrat.”
Ron DeSantis, Republican presidential candidate and Florida governor, also criticized President Biden’s initial silence about the disaster during Wednesday’s first Republican debate in Milwaukee.
“Biden was on the beach while those people were suffering; he was asked about it, and he said, ‘No comment.’ Are you kidding me?” Mr. DeSantis said during the debate.
The deadly fires in Hawaii have left communities in a state of shock and grief, as well as suspicious of the efficacy of response measures. Some have criticized the Biden administration’s inadequate response to the historic disaster.
The White House, however, defended the response efforts. The administration has granted millions of dollars in assistance for households affected by the fires, including initial rental assistance. And, more than 1,000 federal personnel are deployed, providing critical support such as search and rescue operations, victim identification, and the distribution of essential supplies, according to the White House.
