Biden takes break from vacation to tour Hawaii fire damage

WASHINGTON — President Biden took time out Monday from his weeklong vacation at a Democratic billionaire’s Lake Tahoe mansion for a day trip to Hawaii to examine damage from the deadliest US wildfires in more than a century.

Biden boarded Air Force One in Reno, Nev., without addressing reporters — and after taking heat for repeatedly declining to comment on the blazes that have killed at least 114 people in Maui.

The tragedy also left hundreds missing following a series of apparent missteps by local officials, who didn’t sound emergency alarms or approve the release of water in time to battle the flames.

The dead include children, including a 7-year-old boy who burned to death with his family inside a car.

Most victims have not yet been identified and 850 people remain missing after fire destroyed the town of Lahaina on Aug. 8.

As the staggering death count became apparent, the 80-year-old president stunned and outraged Hawaiians by saying “No comment” when asked about the disaster on Aug. 13 after relaxing on a Delaware beach.

“I campaigned for you,” raged former Hawaii legislator Kaniela Ing. “Now, when I lose dozens of my friends, family, and neighbors. This?”

Biden again declined to comment Thursday when asked by a reporter to discuss his planned trip to Maui, saying, “No, not now.”

Biden and first lady Jill Biden are scheduled to meet with federal and local officials, as well as emergency workers and fire survivors.

American presidents are expected to offer words of support and consolation during tragedies and a perceived failure to commiserate with victims can have political consequences — as occurred following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when President George W. Bush faced scathing criticism for praising FEMA’s response despite widespread public outrage.

Biden on Tuesday broke his silence about the stunning loss of life at an economy-focused speech in Milwaukee, but at one point appeared to forget the name “Maui” and referred to the island as “the one where you see on television all of the time.”

He also seemed to make a lame attempt at a joke, saying, “I apologize because I try very hard to keep my speeches between 15 and 18 minutes, but I got to talk a little bit about Hawaii.”

The White House authorized a $700 relief grant per household to survivors, but even that has come under criticism for stinginess relative to spending on other priorities, such as $113 billion in funding since last year for Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion.