President Joe Biden is facing backlash after he made an offhand comment about the Los Angeles County wildfires Thursday.
During a briefing with senior administrative officials to address the federal government’s response to the devastating wildfires currently burning through the Pacific Palisades, and other parts of the city, Biden told Vice President Kamala Harris, a California resident, to “fire away.”
“Madam vice president, I know you’re directly affected. So, you fire away, no pun intended,” Biden said.
Watch the video below:
The reaction on social media was swift, with some calling Biden’s “joke” “sick,” “disgusting,” and “tone-deaf.”
In a close-up video of Harris’ reaction to yet another Biden gaffe, the vice president appeared visibly uncomfortable at the comment.
According to Fox News, Biden told officials the federal government will be footing the entire bill for California’s disaster relief for the next 180 days.
“That’s going to pay for things like debris and hazard material removal, temporary shelters, first responders’ salaries, and all of the safety measures to protect life and property,” Biden said. “I want to underscore; I told the governor and local officials: spare no expense. And we’re doing literally everything we can at the federal level.”
