Joe Biden on vacation in Lake Tahoe before visiting deadly Maui wildfire damage
This story has been updated as more information came to light.
President Joe Biden is in Lake Tahoe ahead of his trip to review wildfire devastation on Maui.
The Democrat landed at Reno-Tahoe International Airport aboard Air Force One around 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Biden family is staying at billionaire Tom Steyer’s house, which they are renting at fair market value, the White House said. Steyer was one of many Democrats who ran for president in 2020 and dropped out. The house is in the Glenbrook community on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe.
On Monday, Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will survey wildfire damage that destroyed the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina. The president will meet with survivors, emergency responders and local officials.
The wildfire that wiped out Lahaina is the nation’s deadliest in over a century, killing at least 114 people. The search for remains is far from over.
Three wildfires were still burning on Maui as of Saturday.
Biden is expected to return to Lake Tahoe that day and leave Saturday. Locals should expect a heightened security presence.
It’s the first presidential visit to Lake Tahoe since former President Barack Obama came to speak about climate at the 2016 Lake Tahoe Summit.
The president’s daughter Ashley Biden and granddaughters Maisy Biden and Naomi Biden flew in with the president, as did Naomi’s husband. Hunter Biden, the president’s son, flew in separately with his wife and son Beau.
The White House did not provide further details about Biden’s trip. But it’s family vacation: No political appearances are on the public calendar.
Breaking from scheduled vacations is not unusual for presidents, including Biden. Last year, the Democrat took a D.C. day trip from his vacation in South Carolina to sign the Inflation Reduction Act. He shortened a Delaware vacation in August 2021 when the U.S. was withdrawing from war-torn Afghanistan.
This story was originally published August 18, 2023 at 10:35 AM.
