President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris attempted to stage a performance of leadership on Monday during their Oval Office briefing on the devastating California wildfires, but what unfolded was a masterclass in tone-deafness and ineptitude. From Biden’s robotic delivery of meaningless promises to Harris’ signature rambling nonsense, it was a painful reminder of why this administration is on its way out the door.
Let’s start with Biden. Seated at the Resolute Desk, eyes glued to his script, he announced that wildfire victims would receive a “one-time payment of $770.” Yes, $770. For families who have lost their homes, their possessions, and in some cases, their loved ones, this insulting figure wouldn’t even cover a week’s hotel stay. It’s unclear who in the White House thought this paltry sum would be seen as anything but an insult. But Biden’s announcement wasn’t just tone-deaf—it was downright insulting when juxtaposed against the administration’s recent spending priorities.
BIDEN: “People impacted by these fires are gonna receive one-time payment of $770. One-time payment.” pic.twitter.com/9E7Toj5BEo
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 14, 2025
For perspective, as of December, the United States had shelled out $3.4 billion to pay the salaries of Ukrainian bureaucrats and schoolteachers. Not for military aid or frontline support, but to cover paychecks for government workers in some of the safest areas of Ukraine. Meanwhile, American wildfire victims are handed less than $800 to rebuild their lives. It’s a glaring example of how twisted the administration’s priorities have become, and it’s no wonder voters rejected Biden in 2024. When the people footing the bill—American taxpayers—are treated like an afterthought, the backlash is inevitable.
And then there was Kamala Harris. If Biden’s part of the briefing was awkwardly out of touch, Harris’ was downright baffling. Instead of addressing the immediate needs of those suffering, Harris launched into one of her trademark word salads, urging victims to “be patient.” Patient? For what, exactly? For their lives to miraculously rebuild themselves while politicians pontificate from the comfort of Washington, D.C.?
Kamala to wildfire victims: “It’s critically important that, to the extent you can find anything that gives you an ability to be patient in this extremely dangerous and unprecedented crisis, that you do.” pic.twitter.com/zjV2KVxr8u
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 14, 2025
Harris’ remarks only served as a reminder of why she’s one of the least effective leaders in modern political history. Her inability to articulate a coherent thought, let alone propose actionable solutions, has become her hallmark. It’s stunning to think she was once a heartbeat away from the presidency. Every public appearance seems to reinforce the impression that she’s more concerned with empty platitudes than rolling up her sleeves and doing the hard work of governing.
But the briefing wasn’t just a showcase of incompetence; it was a stark reflection of the policies that helped fuel this crisis. Biden and Harris share the blame with California’s leadership for the conditions that allowed these wildfires to devastate communities. Federal lands, which are often the ignition point for these fires, were left poorly managed after the Biden administration canceled controlled burns in California prior to the 2024 election. The decision was purely political—fearing backlash if anything went wrong, they chose inaction over prevention. Now, thousands of people are paying the price for that cowardice.
Biden sits and makes faces at the press as his handlers SCREAM at them to leave the room following his wildfires briefing.
Fewer than seven days until Biden disgraces that room no longer. pic.twitter.com/12qbLfsV4s
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 14, 2025
And as if the briefing couldn’t get any worse, it ended with Biden making faces at reporters while his handlers shouted at them to leave the room. This is a president who, even after four years in office, seems incapable of reading the room—or perhaps even understanding the gravity of the situation. Over two dozen people are confirmed dead. Thousands have lost their homes. And yet, Biden’s behavior suggests he’s more annoyed by the questions than concerned about the suffering.
