President Joe Biden has postponed his upcoming overseas trip to Germany and Angola due to Hurricane Milton’s projected landfall in Florida on Wednesday. This would have been Biden’s first visit to the African continent as president. The decision was made to allow Biden to oversee preparations and response to the hurricane and the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene. Meteorologists and public officials have urged Florida residents in affected areas to evacuate.
Former President Donald Trump has criticized Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their response to Hurricane Helene, making false claims about FEMA funds. However, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell called Trump’s claims “frankly ridiculous and just plain false.” Biden and Harris visited hurricane-ravaged areas in North Carolina and Georgia a few days after the storm hit the U.S.
The postponed trip to Germany and Angola was intended for discussions on shared priorities such as climate security, clean energy, and democracy. The German government expressed regret over the cancellation, citing the situation in Florida as the reason.
FEMA Administrator Criswell and Acting FEMA Associate Administrator Turi assured that FEMA has the necessary resources for response efforts to both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Biden still plans to visit the affected areas before his term ends and vows to continue supporting recovery and relief efforts.
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