President Joe Biden visited the Hawaiian island Maui nearly two weeks after the region’s record-setting wildfire. As of Tuesday, more than 100 people — and counting — have been declared dead, according to official estimates. More than 800 remain missing.
And Hawaiians aren’t happy with Biden’s delayed response.
Maui residents met Biden at his motorcade They held signs saying, “He’s too late,” and, “Actions speak louder than words.”
One person made a yard sign saying, “Traitor Joe must go.”
In one unverified video, an onlooker shouts, “Here he comes after 13 days!”
Take a look —
NEW: Maui residents prepare for President Biden's arrival: pic.twitter.com/tJo14eXkwP
— Tony Kinnett (@TheTonus) August 21, 2023
Maui residents are lining the road amid Biden's visit — with signs saying "he's too late," "he should've been here much earlier," and "actions speak louder than words." pic.twitter.com/Qnu6j3ogTt
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 21, 2023
Besides his delayed response, Biden made a second big mistake: failing to take the aftermath seriously enough.
In Maui, Biden told flat jokes, recounted dubious anecdotes, and nodded off during a meeting.
The president joked about someone’s boots heating up from the ground. “That’s some hot ground, man,” he said in a viral video. Too soon!
Biden also tried to sympathize with Maui residents by telling a story about a small kitchen fire. “”I don’t want to compare difficulties, but we have a little sense Jill and I, what it’s like to lose a home,” Biden said.
One Maui resident went on Fox & Friends to describe the anecdote as “tone-deaf.”
Plus, Biden appeared unengaged during a meeting on the island. In fact, he was accused of falling asleep on the job. Regardless of whether or not he was awake, he was certainly failing to pay attention.
By failing to take the fires seriously, Biden outraged not only Hawaiians, but also national observers.
Take a look —
Biden jokes about how hot the ground is while touring wildfire damage in Maui pic.twitter.com/lY18UQ36fP
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 21, 2023
Biden tells Maui wildfire victims, "I don't want to compare difficulties, but…" then tells a made up story about losing his house to a fire.
According to a 2004 AP report, it was “a small fire…contained to the kitchen” that “was under control in 20 minutes.” pic.twitter.com/DNY0Tyatg7
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 22, 2023
Biden appears to fall asleep during a ceremony in Hawaii honoring the hundreds of Americans killed by the fires pic.twitter.com/epLCJ01B0J
— Sean Hannity 🇺🇸 (@seanhannity) August 22, 2023