Joe Biden appears to forget name of devastated Hawaii island Maui in new embarrassing blunder
Joe Biden struggled to recall the island's name
Reuters
President Joe Biden seemed to forget the name of the Hawaiian Island ravaged by the wildfires in a humiliating error last night.
Shilst giving a speech in Milwaukee, Biden referred to the devastated island as “the one you see on television all the time”.
He told the crowd that fires were still raging on Hawaii – also known as the Big Island – but had stopped blazing on Maui, however he struggled to recall the island’s name.
“The Army helicopters helped fire suppression efforts on the Big Island because there's still some burning on the Big Island — not the one that, not the one where you see on television all the time,” he said.
Two people examine a burned house after an inferno destroyed much of the historic Maui resort town of Lahaina
Reuters
The speech comes three days after Biden declined to comment on the rising death toll.
Reporters asked Biden on Rehoboth Beach for his thoughts on the ever-growing figure, but Biden refused to speak on it and instead headed back to his beachside home.
The death toll currently stands at 106 and the flames have wiped out the city of Lahaina.
Kaniela Ing, a Democratic former member of Hawaii’s state legislature, said he did not appreciate the Biden administration’s response.
“I campaigned for you,” he said. “Now, when I lose dozens of my friends, family, and neighbours - this?”
The President has also come under fire for not travelling to the charred island, the site of the worst Wildfire in the US for 100 years.
He has announced that he intends to travel there with his wife Jill, though has not yet stated when.
“My wife Jill and I are going to travel to Hawaii as soon as we can,” he said.
“That’s what I’ve been talking to the governor about. I don’t want to get in the way. I’ve been to too many disaster areas.
Maui County firefighters fight flare-up fires in a canyon in Kula on Maui island, Hawaii
Reuters
“But I want to go make sure we got everything they need. Want to be sure we don’t disrupt the ongoing recovery efforts.”
During his speech on Tuesday, the 80-year-old announced federal aid to Hawaii.
This includes $700 one-time grants to victims, which should cover the cost of food, water, first aid and medical supplies.
3,000 people and counting have registered for federal assistance, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.