Americans critical of Biden’s response to Maui devastation: ‘What kind of president is he?’
FOX NewsSep 01, 2023
Biden Maui Visit Met With Anger From Some Residents
Image copyright: Twitter [via US Pres. Joe Biden]
The Facts
Almost two weeks after wildfires hit the Hawaiian island of Maui — leaving at least 114 dead and roughly 1K still unaccounted for — US Pres. Joe Biden made his first visit to the island, sparking anger from some residents who said he should've been there sooner, while others welcomed him with the shaka — a common Hawaiian greeting.
Protesters greeted Biden at Kapalua Airport on Monday with jeers and placards, including signs that read "no comment" — referencing his response when asked about the rising death toll last week. Others compared the amount of money earmarked for survivors compared to the amount given to Ukraine.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Biden completely dropped the ball during his overdue visit to Maui. He inappropriately compared the hardship of families who have lost everything to a small kitchen fire at just one of his many homes. And his administration has offered just $700 total to people who are now homeless. The federal response has been far from satisfactory and the local residents are quite right to have questions of their commander-in-chief.
Democratic narrative
Biden has been dealt a tall task in overseeing the devastating aftermath of Maui's wildfires, and the criticisms are unfounded. The work to arrange an immediate presidential visit would've taken away from the necessary recovery efforts, and Biden has shown his desire to help the community as a whole and console the individual victims on the ground. While he may face criticism from those who already didn't like him, his compassion and decency were certainly on display in Hawaii.