Staff Reports
In a video posted online, a woman from Hawaii who lost everything she owned due to the Maui wildfire said that she was disappointed with the $700 that Joe Biden had offered. She noted that the aid that Biden was sending to Ukraine outweighed the assistance that she was receiving.
In the video, the woman said she has not received any money from her bank. She also stated that she lost her house, car, and animals. She said she has nothing left to show for all of her possessions.
In an emotional interview, she said that Biden should return the $700 that he gave to Ukraine and leave the country. She called it an insult and argued that fixing one's house before fixing somebody else's was a better idea.
An indigenous Lahaina local tells me she lost her house, pets, medicine and cash savings. She can't get a call back from FEMA and has yet to see any type of US aid relief.
She says Joe Biden should keep his insulting $700 because of the "gazillions" he's sending Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/FLNgMdemtq
— Jeremy Loffredo (@loffredojeremy) August 25, 2023
The woman's plea highlights the disparity in the aid distribution. While the US is providing billions of dollars to Ukraine, an American is struggling to recover from a disaster. It is troubling that the government is prioritizing foreign aid over domestic assistance when there are dire needs of its citizens.
The woman's video has been widely shared online, which prompted some people to respond to her call for help. One person even offered to give her $100. After Jeremy Loffredo shared the video, an individual made a donation using the woman's Venmo account.
The woman's situation shows how important it is for the government to prioritize the needs of its citizens, especially those who are affected by natural disasters. Biden's response to her appeal will be a key indicator of how he would prioritize the country's needs as president.
