Author: Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden has canceled an upcoming trip to Italy because of wildfires in California, the White House said on Wednesday, adding that he wanted to focus on directing a full federal response to the fires.
The White House announced in December that Biden would visit Italy from January 9 to 12 to meet with Pope Francis, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni.
“After returning tonight from Los Angeles, where earlier today he met with police, firefighters and emergency personnel battling the historic wildfires raging in the area and approved a major disaster declaration for California, President Biden has made the decision to cancel his upcoming trip in Italy will remain focused on directing a full federal response in the coming days,” the White House said in a statement.
Wildfires surrounding Los Angeles spread into the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday, after five other fires in the area killed at least five people, destroyed hundreds of homes and drained firefighting resources and water supplies to the limit.
