US President Joe Biden Cancels Italy Trip to Focus on California Wildfire Response
US President Joe Biden has cancelled a planned visit to Italy to concentrate on leading federal efforts to combat the devastating wildfires in California in the coming days, the White House press office announced.
Prior to the cancellation, Biden had visited Los Angeles, where he met with police, firefighters, and other emergency responders.
The president had originally planned to visit Italy from January 9 to 12, where he was expected to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, local politicians, and Pope Francis. The New York Times reported that Biden’s Catholic faith was a significant factor in the trip, as he sought “comfort and solace” from the Pope ahead of his impending retirement.
Biden’s term ends on January 20, when the designated President, Donald Trump, is set to be sworn in. The planned Italy trip was intended to be his last foreign visit as president, as US presidents typically do not travel abroad in the final month of their term, according to the Associated Press.
In a related development, Biden authorized the federal government to provide aid to California, which will support the state, local governments, and Native American tribes in the cost of disaster relief and also provide financial assistance to individuals and businesses that have lost homes or property. California Governor Gavin Newsom has appealed to residents in southern California to follow local authorities’ guidance and evacuate as soon as possible, as the situation is extremely dangerous and rapidly developing.
The wildfires in California have been raging since Tuesday, January 7, and are among the most destructive in the state’s history, according to the Los Angeles Times. Five fatalities have been confirmed, and over 2,000 homes, businesses, and other structures have been destroyed or damaged. Prominent individuals, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hanks, Paris Hilton, Adam Brody, and Mandy Moore, have also been affected. Approximately 130,000 people have been evacuated.
The cause of the fires is attributed to the extreme fire-prone weather in southern California, which is being exacerbated by strong winds and low humidity, according to the head of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Kristin Crowley.