The White House announced Wednesday night that President Biden has canceled a planned trip to Italy due to the wildfires burning in Los Angeles.
“President Biden will make plans after returning this evening from Los Angeles, where he met with police, fire and emergency personnel battling historic fires raging in the region earlier today and approved a major disaster declaration for California. Italy remains focused on directing a full federal response,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
Biden, 82, was scheduled to fly to Rome on Thursday, shortly after the funeral of late former President Jimmy Carter in Washington, D.C.
Biden was scheduled to meet individually with Pope Francis, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his four-day visit.
The White House previously said the outgoing commander-in-chief was scheduled to discuss efforts to promote peace around the world during an audience with the Pope, and that his now-canceled meeting with the Italian leader would address “important issues facing the world.” He announced that he was planning to discuss issues.
Stay up to date with NYP's coverage of horrific fires in the Los Angeles area
Earlier Wednesday, Biden issued a major disaster declaration for California, providing federal funds to disaster victims in Los Angeles County.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official Curtis Brown has been appointed to coordinate federal recovery efforts in the fire-affected area.
The White House said more counties may be provided with funding and other forms of federal relief as the damage assessment progresses.
The fast-moving blaze that began engulfing the Los Angeles area on Tuesday has killed at least five people and destroyed thousands of buildings.
As of Wednesday evening, Los Angeles firefighters were battling multiple large fires, each more than 10 acres in size, with 0% containment rate, CalFire said.
The biggest inferno, the Palisades Fire, has burned about 16,000 acres.
