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President Donald Trump reacted to the ongoing wildfires in Maui, Hawaii this week, reassuring Americans that the legacy for those lost would be carried forward following the tragedy.
In a two-minute video message, Trump offered his deepest sympathies to the residents of Maui, while also criticizing the negligent response from Joe Biden, calling his inaction and disregard “horrible and unacceptable.”
“I would like to express my sympathy and warmest regards to the people of Hawaii, and specifically all of those who have been so gravely and irreparably hurt by the tragedy of the wildfires in Maui, something the likes of which have seldom been seen anywhere at any time,” said Trump.
Per CBS News, no emergency sirens went off in historic Lahaina, Maui, where numerous residents reported that they did not even know the fire was close until they saw it coming toward them with their own eyes.
As previously reported by RSBN, Lahania residents jumped into the ocean to avoid being burned alive by fires which had leveled the historic town.
Trump noted that the government was “not prepared” for the fires, also criticizing the state’s Gov. Josh Green, D-Hawaii, for blaming the wildfires on “global warming.”
He added, “The death caused by this catastrophic event will be far worse than ever expected now that houses and cars and other areas are being inspected. The sad thing is that it should have never have happened. Our government was not prepared, and very importantly, the aftermath is going very poorly with the governor of the island wanting to do nothing but blame it on global warming—and other things that just happen to pop into his head.”
Trump also criticized Joe Biden for his lack of concern for the victims in Maui, of which 99 are dead as of Monday, while hundreds more are reported missing in what is the nation’s deadliest in over a century.
As previously reported by RSBN, Biden was asked by reporters on Sunday if he had any comment about the death toll in Maui as he entered his motorcade at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Biden responded, “No comment,” before he cracked a smile and climbed into his motorcade to head home after enjoying a long day at the beach.
“When asked about it today as he was getting into a car—perhaps coming home from the beach, where he has been spending a great deal of time—crooked Joe Biden, the most incompetent president in the history of our country, with a laugh and a smile said he had ‘no comment’ on the death and the tragedy,” Trump said in his video message.
Trump continued, “To say ‘no comment’ is often times fine, but to be smiling when you say it—especially against such a tragedy as this—is absolutely horrible and unacceptable.”
Biden then responded the following day and announced a financial assistance plan to aid those affected, offering a $700 one-time payment per household to offer “relief during an unimaginably difficult time.”
For context, there are almost 73,000 housing units in Maui, according to the Census Bureau. A one-time payments of just $700 per household equates to $51 million total spent across the island, which allegedly faces more than $7 billion worth of economic damages as reported by the Independent.
According to a report from Sens. John Kennedy, R-La., and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., Biden’s administration has given over $113 billion to Ukraine since the beginning of their war with Russia in 2022. Meanwhile, Maui gets less than 0.05 percent of what the Biden administration has spent overseas.
Video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, has also shown the devastation from the fires which left much of the island reduced to ash. Seemingly, it appears that it will take a lot more than one-time payments of $700 to rebuild entire towns.
Trump criticized Biden over his refusal to help or visit Maui, comparing it to his disastrous response to the East Palestine, Ohio chemical spills that resulted from a train derailment earlier this year.
“It is a disgraceful thing that Joe Biden refuses to help or comment on the tragedy in Maui, just as he refused to help or comment on the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio for a very, very long time,” Trump said in his video message.
However, Biden on Tuesday promised that he would “soon” visit Hawaii, but he did not confirm an exact date. Biden also made the promise to visit East Palestine in February, but has still not visited the town.
Trump concluded in his message, “In any event, hopefully everyone will be able to pull together so that a horrible situation does not get even worse. To the families affected, I give you my love and sympathy. Nothing can ever replace your loved ones, but you will always have the memories and will feel their great love surrounding and embracing you. Together we will continue to carry their legacy forward, and I love you all very much. Thank you.”
