President Joe Biden is suspending a deliberate journey to Germany and Angola to concentrate on the response to Hurricane Milton, the second main storm in two weeks to impression the US southeast.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre introduced the change to the president’s plans in an announcement on Tuesday, citing the “projected trajectory and power of Hurricane Milton” and the continued response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, which struck the US final month.
Milton, a Category 4 storm barreling towards Florida, is predicted to inflict large injury and put lives in danger. Millions have begun to evacuate Florida’s shoreline, together with from the town of Tampa.
The choice, coming with lower than a month till Election Day, highlights how the administration’s catastrophe response has develop into a possible flash level within the race for the White House between Republican former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
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The journey to Germany and Angola, which was slated to go from Oct. 10-15, would have been Biden’s first journey overseas since he withdrew from the presidential race in July and endorsed Harris. The stops highlighted two of his priorities, shoring up assist amongst allies for Ukraine and increasing US financial and safety hyperlinks in Africa.
Biden can be standing up world leaders, together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who had been anticipated to satisfy him at Ramstein Air Force Base.
The choice additionally threatens Biden’s capacity to fulfil a pledge to go to Africa by the tip of his time period, a vow meant to showcase Washington’s renewed dedication to the continent. Biden has sought to counter claims that Africa has taken a backseat to different US priorities, searching for to revitalize ties with the continent and push again on rising Chinese and Russian affect there.
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Trump as president in 2019 canceled a visit to Poland as Hurricane Dorian was poised to strike Florida — a state that can be house to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach — sending then-Vice President Mike Pence in his place.
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