White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was clearly annoyed after being grilled by a reporter who compared President Biden’s response to Hurricane Idalia with his criticized handling of the Maui wildfire tragedy.
During the recent press briefing, Fox News White House Correspondent Peter Doocy highlighted the administration’s substantial preparations for Hurricane Idalia, contrasting it with Biden’s initial “no comment” reaction to the Maui wildfire’s rising death toll while vacationing in Delaware.
“Do you acknowledge the shortcomings in the Hawaii wildfire response?” Doocy queried. “Or is it simply more efficient for the White House to assist when the president isn’t on vacation?”
🚨 Fox Reporter @pdoocy just GRILLED @PressSec on Maui:
“Did you guys realize that the initial Hawaii wildfire response was not that good? Or is it just easier to get help from the White House when the President is not on vacation?”
Karine Jean-Pierre quickly got offended and… pic.twitter.com/DPHpdoFcRz
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 31, 2023
Jean-Pierre contested Doocy’s assertion, asserting that his premise was flawed. She retorted, “I disagree with your question’s premise, for the record.” She went on to explain that speaking to Hawaii’s governor, senators, and individuals on the ground would reveal that President Biden’s response was prompt and efficient, with over 600 federal employees aiding during the Maui wildfires.
Jean-Pierre further stressed that the question was fundamentally misguided and advised Doocy to consult local and state officials in Hawaii for an accurate perspective. Biden has faced criticism for the slow federal response to the wildfire, with Maui residents claiming inadequate support. The tragedy claimed more than 110 lives, and search efforts continue.
The President and First Lady Jill Biden visited Maui over a week after the incident, sparking additional controversy when Biden compared the calamity to a kitchen fire at his home. Despite complaints about FEMA’s response lag, the White House asserted ongoing collaboration with Hawaii Governor Josh Green.
Karine Jean-Pierre claims that local Hawaiians on the ground would say Biden responded to the Maui wildfires "in record time" @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/sUHlIxt4sd
— Dylan Housman (@Dylan_Housman) August 30, 2023
House Republicans on the Oversight Committee announced plans to scrutinize the administration’s handling of the matter. Hurricane Idalia, a “catastrophic” Category 3 storm, struck Florida’s Gulf Coast, leaving widespread power outages. It has since weakened to Category 1. The storm caused flooding, surges, and damaging winds. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell detailed the federal response during a press conference, highlighting over 1,000 FEMA personnel deployed across the hurricane’s path.
