President Joe Biden cancels international trip to Italy trip to visit Pope Francis due to California wildfires
US President Joe Biden has cancelled a trip to Italy due to the wildfires in California, the White House says, adding he wants to focus on directing the full federal response to the fires.
The White House announced in December that Mr Biden would visit Italy from January 9 to 12 to meet Pope Francis, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in the final overseas trip of his presidency.
“After returning this evening from Los Angeles, where earlier today he had met with police, fire and emergency personnel fighting the historic fires raging in the area and approved a major disaster declaration for California, President Biden made the decision to cancel his upcoming trip to Italy to remain focused on directing the full federal response in the days ahead,” the White House said in a statement.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The raging wildfires surrounding Los Angeles spread to the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday after five other fires in the area killed at least five people, destroyed hundreds of homes and stretched firefighting resources and water supplies to the limit.
Mr Biden joined California Governor Gavin Newsom at a Santa Monica fire station to get a briefing on firefighting efforts.
“We’re doing anything and everything and as long as it takes to contain these fires ... to make sure you get back to normal,” Biden said at the fire station.
“It’s going to be a hell of a long way. It’s going to take time.”
