KIHEI, Hawaii—President Joe Biden on Monday compared the horrific fires in western Maui to a kitchen fire in his house during which he “almost lost” his “‘67 Corvette.” Locals condemned the comparison, saying it belittled the disaster that likely claimed over a thousand lives and caused billions of dollars worth of damage to local business owners, families, and Lahaina natives.
In an address to a crowd outside Lahaina, the town destroyed by the destructive wildfires, Biden said:
Jill and I know what it’s like to lose a home. Years ago now, 15 years ago, I was in Washington doing “Meet the Press.” It was a sunny Sunday.
Lightning struck at home, on a little lake that’s outside of our home—like a big pond, and hit a wire that came up underneath our home into the heating ducts and air conditioning ducts.
To make a long story short, I almost lost my wife, my ‘67 Corvette, and my cat.
“This is the most despicable thing this president has ever said,” a restaurant owner in Kihei, Maui, told The Daily Signal via a text message Monday. “How do you compare almost losing your f****** Corvette to the children burned in their f****** homes, man?”
At a small sandwich shop north of Kihei, a former teacher, Kristen Goodwin, described how she felt after such a comment:
There are no words in response to something like that. There’s a thousand people still missing on this island, business owners who want people to come back, and who is going to come to a secluded island with people still missing?
The community members have rallied together and have taken care of each other. It was several days before [the feds] came and helped. They shut down a road for no good reason except they didn’t want people trampling over [rescue and search] sites.
Nobody understands that unless they’re here.
Of Biden, she said, “I’m not voting for him again—that’s for sure. I’ll vote for Trump. I will never vote for him again.”
Goodwin also lambasted the president’s initial response to the wildfires:
The lack of connection, the lack of real emotion. Is Biden even there? The “no comment,” situation—how dare he? He could have said “Thoughts and prayers,” at least.
Especially when it’s a historical fire, the largest fire in recent American history and you said “no comment” then went back to bicycling for hours.
[His trip to Maui] just seemed like a photo op to me.
Biden’s visit to Maui involved landing at 11 a.m., Hawaiian Standard Time, traveling to a public speaking event outside of Lahaina, walking over charred property that locals are still restricted from accessing, and flying out not six hours later.
Leslie Santos, a retired university administrator and a native of Maui, asked The Daily Signal how a leader could be “so insensitive and lack the level of compassion of a basic human being?”
I’m not sure how anyone could compare the “almost loss” of a Corvette, a replaceable object, to the loss of life, loss of all one’s possessions, and the loss of livelihoods. I am offended.
There is no comparison to loss of life—especially the neighborhoods of innocent, non-replaceable children who perished.
How can a leader be so insensitive and lack the level of compassion of a basic human being? What happened to “extending kindness and care”?
I am so disappointed in Biden—and I am a Democrat.
This isn’t the first time Biden has outraged victims and survivors by claiming he understood their pain by inappropriately inserting unrelated stories from his life.
Biden told Gold Star families whose 13 sons and husbands were killed in the botched U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan that he understood what it was like to lose a son in combat—comparing his son Beau’s death from cancer to the violent deaths of U.S. servicemen.
One of the Gold Star mothers told the New York Post that she was outraged—since “dying from cancer with his family months later” was nothing like not being able to be with her son at his death.
The White House has not yet issued a statement correcting, apologizing for, or providing additional context for the president’s comments.
Republished with permission from The Daily Signal by Tony Kinnett.
He is NOT the person that should be representing America anywhere, let alone in such a tragic matter as the Maui/Lahaina/Up Country fires. And why did it take him so long to get there? What an awful and cold statement he made. Everything has to swing right back to Joe and his experiences. But he’s a millionaire from stealing from us for so many years and making deals with enemies.
keep voting democrat morons, it’s only going to get worse.
Both Biden and Obama are evil filthy traitors, all they want is to live their elitists lives and destroy America
Narcissists always make it about themselves
What an ass.
What do you expect from a shell of a man who is out of touch with reality? He has dementia, he should have been removed from being President. He is an embarrassment to our country; world leaders make fun of him! Iam so for the loss of life in Maui. I can’t begin to understand the pain all of you are feeling and trying to cope with. Prayers for healing from Texas….
He’s an idiot and proves it every day!
People, human beings, children still missing….Unconscionable. Democrats wake up!!!!!!!!!
Stolen elections have consequences. The FEDSURRECTION by this illegitimate regime sponsored by obama and his band of marxist acolytes have thrust this republic into a constitutional crisis never envisioned by the founders as the rich men north of Richmond function without morals and virtues as they work to fulfill the fundamental transformation of America, enabled by the media and the oligarchs, chicoms, the culture rot of Hollywood , tech firms, hedge funds, old world order, and woke corporations. Would be a miracle if we survive the hatred for red blooded Americans with the invasion at the border and the 24 hours a day printing presses, ushering in a crashed dollar and a lost generation filled with rage and despair. I’m voting for The Real President Trump for the third time and will not accept the heist of my ten plus generations of ancestral blood country being taken down by the hybrid marxist socialist communist fascist regime that indulges in child and human trafficking.
May God Bless America and have mercy on our souls who follow in his light.
This man “Joe Bidden” Must be taken out of office. He does not represent the people of this country at all. He is despicable in all ways.
I’m continually sickened how a man (?) this feeble, insensitive, and cognitively inept is in charge of this country. Why has he not been removed from office? Everywhere he goes and everything he touches displays his utter and indisputable incompetence. I’m surprised he didn’t stay in Hawaii to soak up some sun and fun. That may have been inappropriate, but hell, it’s Joe Biden. What does he care?
It’s bad enough Joe Biden has no honor or morals, he also has no soul, empathy or compassion. How did such a decent country end up with such an ‘A## for a leader . If he is allowed to continue, he will surly destroy all Americans.
Ignorance on steroids! What a waste of jet fuel to send his sorry ass over to Maui to insult those who lost everything!
It’s akin to Marie Antionette saying, “Let them eat cake!”
This man is a sick S.O.B.! He has NO compassion for anyone but himself!!
Just remember that at the polls!
The man is a disgrace, embarrassment, buffoon and an illegitimate office holder. I am proud to be an American and this idiot does not represent my country nor any morals, rights or beliefs we hold so dear. I was speechless at what he said in response to this horrific tragedy. Ukraine is getting more support and relief than our own neighbors. Just disgusting. My heart just breaks for Maui. I cannot even imagine the agony these wonderful people are going thru.
Just more of the same from someone who obviously doesn’t belong in the White House to begin with, he’s physically and mentally unable to do the job. So sad for this country and my heart goes out to those people in Hawaii – I cannot even begin to imagine what they are going through. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
If the man is in favor of killing thousands of unborn babies what type of empathy could anyone expect from him. He does not value human life.
Well, people of Hawaii, remember this when 2024 election come around. BET YOU DON’T- will still put the Dims back in- be careful what you wish (vote for) as you may get it and THEN despise what you get!
Biden would rather spend our money in Ukrain and China. Only to benefit himself.
This is not the first or the last time he will show his true colors.
What is he going to do for Hawaii??? Trump would have already had it taken care of.
That’s because it’s not China Hawaii is a part of the United States of America and he isn’t for this country he’s only for China and the other countries he sold all the oil reserves to ,he does not deserve to be our President he’s a disgrace to our country and he some of been Impeached when he abandoned our military services.
Devastating fire that destroyed properties of many people in a desirable location Not one of those owners rich and famous Celebrities mansions are intact Coincidence?
if you’ve been paying attention to Biden throughout his career, you’ll see nothing but a pattern of lies, plagiarism, corruption, money grabbing, and perversion…either the people of Hawaii are too stupid to realize this or they agree with his lifestyle, since 64% voted for him in 2020! You’d think they now see him for what he is and get off the plantation by the next election!
WOW! How cold can Biden get? Many people died in Lahaina and many lost their homes and businesses. He is a rich guy and hasn’t got a clue what the Hawaiian tragedy is all about. How terribly sad that he is such a jerk and that he hasn’t been kicked out of office. God bless the Hawaiian families at this terrible time.
I say why even bother to go to Maui when all “he” could do was talk about himself. How dare him compare his kitchen fire and possibly losing his precious Corvette, what a disgrace. And never mind that it took him so long to show up and again what for, he was of no help to these poor family’s
Obama and Biden really were a good match. I think they both lack feeling and compassion. Neither one of them did anything for USA
$700 per family-another insult. DEMAND MORE thru a federal lawyer. (Legal Counsel, not politicians! )
Between this horrific event in Maui, with no Fed response, but billions more for Ukraine, the destruction of the cities, out out control inflation, and a moron for a President. I wonder when people will wise up and stop voting in these Marxist Democrats.
I can’t wait to hear about his personal experiences as an infantryman in Vietnam, or about when he was in training to become an astronaut. Then there was the time when he drove in a Winston Cup race.
I watched Biden’s speech in Maui simply to see how long it would take him to making the speech all about himself and his family. I didn’t have to wait long at all. The man could care less about the people of Maui or the lives needlessly lost. For Biden, this was merely a short stop over before flying off to another week of vacation at Tom Steyer’s mansion. By the way, the residents of Tom Steyer’s neighborhood are none too thrilled with the prospect of Old Joe turning their neighborhood into a lock down zone for a week.
I’ll bet the story about his home is a lie anyway.
He is a Despicable excuse for president of the United States of America
THIS is the result of a fraudulent federal election. Pelosi must be so proud of him. She would have bemoaned her loss of ice cream melting in a California fire. These people are a waste of skin.
I hate to see people lose their homes and lives. But Hawaii brought most of this on their own stupidity from being a blue state. claiming the Kenyan as one of their own.
$700 per family – insulting. DEMAND MORE thru federal legal counsel.
He is such an Ass,,,,, And a disgrace to this great country
Simply a useless idiot! Other than being Obama’s destructive puppet.
Without question this man is an empty vessel. How America could ever elect someone so insensitive and unfeeling is beyond the imagination. He is truly a stupid, corrupt, and incompetent leader, and it is time to end his days pretending to be our President.
Joe Biden doesn’t understand how much he has pissed off too many people and it will show up in the voting in the next election!!
Only spent 5 hours on Maui
Obiden walks like a zombie, talks like a retard and acts like a typical democrat. Doesn’t he understand when he really pisses Obama off he’ll get the big jab and join his compatriots in the depths of hell?
Just to put an idea out there. Could the fire in Maui be God’s punishment for being democrats? Cynical ain’t I? Yes, I admit that I am a son of a CENSORED, That was fathers by a son of a grand CENSORED. And I admit it.
We have now seen what an EVIL DESPICABLE SCUM biden is! Wake up people- you voted for this DESPICABLE demon! He does not care at all about the American people. Damn him for his total indifference to the terrible tragedy the people of Maui have suffered. He has shown how truly evil he is! Wake up Americans. This is what you voted for!
I think The Senile One was trying to express an understanding of what the residents of Maui are facing. The simple fact is that the illegitimate president does not have empathy. He has no genuine sympathy, he does NOT, as Dollar Bill claimed, “Feel Your Pain”. This is the best he can do, and he isn’t trying to be insulting — he simply doesn’t know any better.
What a piece of work. ( I would use stronger words but they probably wouldn’t print them)
Absolutely unbelievable comments by this person. I don’t know how any human can be so disconnected from reality and so insensitive,
It was riduculous that he waited nearly two weeks to visit this devastated island. His trying to act as if he knows how these poor people feel is sickening. He always makes everything about him. He is not fit to be a president of anything, anywhere! If there are any people that vote for him in 2024, they are complicit in his corruption, lying and comitting treason to our country and its citizens!
Maybe they’ll not fall for the corrupted old devil again… nbcnews.com/politics/2020-elections/hawaii-results/
All the leftist Democrats vote for scumbags like this all the time so why are they complaining now? This is what they voted for and this is what they get and Obama was just as bad or worse so why do they keep voting for stinking Democrats? Is the great phenomenon of our age. Everything they touch they destroy but the people keep voting for them it’s like they have a death wish.
I’m embarrassed to call him our Commander in Chief!! He’s the most powerful person in the free world!! Yikes!!