Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., told Newsmax on Tuesday that President Joe Biden embarrassed himself during his trip to Maui to visit the victims of the Aug. 8 wildfires that razed the historic enclave of Lahaina and killed more than 100 people.
On Monday, Biden reportedly joked about a cadaver dog wearing boots because the ground was so hot. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green noted last week that recovery efforts in the worst-hit areas were taking time partly because the search dogs could only work for 15 minutes at a time before their paws overheated.
"We're going to make sure that the people in Hawaii get the aid that they need during this terrible time," Cline said during an appearance on Newsmax's "The Chris Salcedo Show." "The president has made just an embarrassment of himself, of the office of the president, during his trip, and now to propose that we give more money to Ukraine – more money than ever would go to Hawaii or its victims – is an insult to those who have lost family members or loved ones."
The White House asked Congress to approve more than $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine Aug. 10, as well as an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year.
The $40 billion spending package also reportedly includes $12 billion to help Americans affected by natural disasters, following the deadly Maui wildfires and 15 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters that occurred nationwide from January through July.
In Maui on Monday, Biden also told a room full of displaced Lahaina residents that he has a "little sense" of what they are going through due to a minor kitchen fire at his Wilmington, Delaware, home nearly 20 years ago.
"I almost lost my wife, my '67 Corvette, and my cat," Biden said of the fire, which the local fire chief at the time said was "under control in 20 minutes."
When Biden arrived in Maui on Monday, his motorcade was reportedly met by angry locals chanting, "Go home, Joe!" Many held signs that read, "No comment," in reference to Biden initially declining to comment on the disaster, and a few waved 2024 Donald Trump campaign flags.
Members of the president's team dismissed criticism of his remarks.
"He's petting one of the dogs that's working hard searching for remains so survivors who've lost loved ones can have closure," White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates tweeted in response to the backlash on social media over Biden's interaction with the cadaver dog.
"This criticism is classless and stupid," he opined.
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Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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