PRESIDENT Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that he is postponing a planned trip to Angola and Germany to remain in the White House and oversee the government’s response to Hurricane Milton, which is nearing Florida’s Gulf Coast.
‘I don’t think I can be out of the country at this time,’ Biden said following a briefing from senior administration officials on the storm’s potential impact and the federal response efforts.
While Biden had committed to visiting Africa before the end of his term in January, he reassured the public that the trip is still on the agenda. ‘I’m still planning to visit all the places I said I would and attend the conferences I promised,’ he said.
No new dates for the overseas visits have been confirmed, with the White House yet to announce a rescheduled timetable. Biden was initially set to depart on Thursday for Germany, where he planned to host a summit on the Ukraine war with allied nations at a US military base, before continuing to Angola.
Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder indicated that officials would seek alternative arrangements for the summit on Ukraine. The German government expressed regret over the cancellation but acknowledged the necessity, given the situation in Florida.
Biden issued a strong warning about the severity of Hurricane Milton, predicting that it ‘could be one of the worst storms in 100 years to hit Florida.’ He emphasised that the federal government is ramping up its response to the impending disaster.
He urged residents in the storm’s path to heed evacuation orders immediately, stating, ‘You should have already evacuated. It’s a matter of life and death.’
The president also highlighted the unusual strength of the storm, noting it has the potential to cross Florida as a hurricane and exit onto the Atlantic coast as one. ‘This could be the worst storm to hit Florida in over a century,’ Biden cautioned, adding that he is hopeful it won’t be as severe as forecasted.
In a plea to commercial airlines and transport companies, Biden called for assistance with evacuations and warned against price gouging. ‘I’m asking airlines and other companies to provide as much service as possible for evacuations, and to keep prices fair,’ he said.
