Biden Gives Briefing On LA Fires

By
Rachel Stevenson
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The devastation in Los Angeles right now is catastrophic, with aerial photos revealing entire neighborhoods erased from the map. As wildfires continue to rage, claiming lives, homes, and over 28,000 acres, the response from Democratic leadership has been, shall we say, underwhelming. While Californians are looking for leadership, they’re being met with excuses, fumbles, and, in one case, a truly ill-timed pun from President Biden.

Let’s start with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who appears to have mastered the art of looking busy while accomplishing little. Newsom was confronted by a desperate woman who had just lost her home, and his response? A claim that he was trying to get in touch with Joe Biden. Apparently, he couldn’t find a cell signal, though it’s worth noting that Biden was reportedly in a meeting with advisors at the time. Either Newsom’s timing was off, or his excuse was. In either case, it doesn’t inspire confidence.

Meanwhile, Biden eventually made his way to the cameras for a press briefing, where he declared this the worst fire in Los Angeles “ever.” True enough, but his delivery left much to be desired. Tripping over his words and struggling to relay a simple phone number for assistance, Biden reminded everyone why his press conferences so often feel like watching a slow-motion train wreck. If you missed the number he was trying to share, the website was thankfully clearer: DisasterAssistance.gov.

In a particularly Biden-esque moment, he handed the mic to Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she was “directly affected” by the fires, and told her to “fire away—no pun intended.” Oh, but the pun was intended, and Harris’s expression said it all: a mix of disbelief and irritation that perfectly mirrored the nation’s reaction. It’s almost as if Biden has an internal script labeled “Inappropriate Comments to Make During a Tragedy,” and he never misses a cue.

To be fair, Harris’s home in Brentwood is under an evacuation order, so her connection to the disaster is personal. Her press secretary mentioned that no one was in the house and that the family was praying for everyone impacted. But that prayer is likely to be cold comfort for the hundreds of thousands of evacuees who are relying on tangible support, not platitudes.

Biden did make some concrete promises, including 100% federal aid for 180 days to cover debris removal, temporary shelters, and first responder salaries. He also declared this a major disaster, authorizing federal firefighting resources. These are important steps, but let’s not forget how long it took to get here. For a disaster of this magnitude, you’d think the federal and state responses would feel more… decisive.

In what might be the only silver lining, Biden canceled his planned trip to Italy for a meeting with the Pope, ostensibly to stay focused on the crisis. It’s a rare moment of prioritizing others over himself, though it’s hard not to be cynical about the timing. Californians don’t need symbolic gestures; they need leadership. They need leaders who are present, prepared, and capable of acting swiftly—not fumbling press conferences and excuses about poor cell reception.

The numbers are grim: five lives lost, hundreds of thousands evacuated, and winds that show no signs of letting up, complicating firefighting efforts. In moments like this, the country deserves steady leadership, not a comedy of errors. Unfortunately, that might be asking too much from California’s Democratic leadership and the Biden administration. But hey, at least we got a pun out of it, right?

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