Joe Biden's response to the horrific fires in Hawaii is "shocking" and "quite disappointing", a Democrat in the devastated state has said.
The US president said he had nothing to say when asked about the rising death toll in Hawaii following severe wildfires.
As Biden enjoyed his Delaware beach holiday, the increasing number of deaths rose to 96 as of Monday afternoon with hundreds more missing.
When asked on Rehoboth beach about the rising death toll in Hawaii, Biden said "no comment" before he headed home.
Biden enjoyed his Delaware beach holiday, the increasing number of deaths rose to 96 as of Monday afternoon with hundreds more missing
ReutersHis remark received backlash from former Hawaii state Rep. Mark Kaniela, who posted on X: "I campaigned for you. Now, when I lose dozens of my friends, family, and neighbors. This?"
In an interview, the Democrat said he found Biden's comment "shocking" and out of character.
"When things like this happen, it's really the time to — if you do the kind of work I do, when the wave crests, you’ve got to paddle hardest," he told Fox News.
"When tragedies like this occur, it's shocking to see people just conducting business as usual.
"On the one hand, you don't want everyone to be in a perpetual somber mood, but on the other hand, how can you just carry on like that?"
"I think everyone deserves some time to take care of themselves, wind down, but, as someone in leadership role, you need to be ready any moment to offer some empathy and solace and comfort to people that are facing a lot of trauma right now."
Kaniela Ing, who now serves as national director of the Green New Deal Network, explained that he deleted his post as he thought the reporters interaction with Biden was more nuanced than initially reported.
He added: "Whether or not it was as dismissive as originally reported, it is quite disappointing. I would expect more.
The US president said he had nothing to say when asked about the rising death toll in Hawaii following severe wildfires
Reuters
"He should be talking about what he’s done and what he will do. The talking and offering words of solace and comfort, great. I'm not too hung up on that, to be honest. What I'm looking for is action."
In response the White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said that the president released a statement on the fires last week and also pointed to "the governor’s positive comments about the federal response on multiple Sunday shows."
The White House later released a statement which said: "President Biden has mobilised and led a whole-of-government response to the wildfires in Hawaii from the beginning, working closely on it and receiving detailed briefings every day since."
