White House: Biden, 80, Unaware of Hawaii Wildfires Question Before ‘No Comment’

President Biden’s Response to Hawaii Wildfires Question Sparks Controversy

Nearly two​ weeks after President Joe Biden shrugged off a question on the devastating wildfires in Hawaii, the White​ House is claiming‌ that the 80-year-old president did not⁢ hear the question.

“He didn’t​ hear the question,” Olivia ‌Dalton, deputy ⁣White House press secretary, said. “He absolutely didn’t say ‘no comment’ in relation to Maui. And in fact,⁢ he had already‌ spoken to the nation about Maui at ​that point, in addition ⁣to being in daily contact with senior staff, FEMA,⁣ and state officials as he marshaled a whole-of-government​ response to the fires.”

While Biden was​ vacationing in Rehoboth, Delaware, ‍on Aug. 13, a reporter shouted a question about the‍ rising death toll in Hawaii. “No comment,” the president replied.

The ⁣White House’s explanation that Biden didn’t hear the⁢ question comes as the president is⁤ already facing scrutiny over his age and​ mental acuity. A majority of Americans believe ‍Biden would ⁤not make it through a second term, according to a Harvard Caps/Harris poll ⁣conducted in May.

The⁣ administration has faced criticism for its response to the fires. After he first‍ addressed ⁢the disaster at the beginning of the​ month, Biden went four days without commenting on it again. He finally visited the devastated island this week, where he spent roughly six hours and told stories about a small kitchen fire at his house ​years ago.

After his visit, Biden flew directly to Nevada to resume his vacation at billionaire climate activist ⁣Tom Steyer’s $18 million lakefront mansion.

Former president Donald Trump said in a video​ statement that Biden’s response to the reporter was “horrible.”

“To say ‘no comment’ is oftentimes⁤ fine, but to be smiling when you say‍ it, especially against such a tragedy as this, is absolutely horrible and⁤ unacceptable,” Trump said the day after Biden’s remark.