Lauren Boebert Accused Of Using Maui Wildfires To Score 'MAGA Points'
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) faced backlash online after she criticized President Joe Biden for his response to the devastating wildfires in Hawaii.
“There is a total crisis in Maui,” she wrote on Saturday in her first tweet addressing the disaster. “3000 destroyed homes. 80 people dead. Where’s Joe Biden? On vacation of course. There is no bottom for this president.”
There is a total crisis in Maui.
3000 destroyed homes.
80 people dead.
Where’s Joe Biden?
On vacation of course.
There is no bottom for this president.— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) August 12, 2023
Biden spent the weekend at his Rehoboth Beach home in Delaware. He approved a major disaster declaration in Maui on Thursday and pledged that “every asset that we have will be available to” the people of Hawaii.
Aid from the disaster declaration “will get aid into the hands of people who desperately need help,” Biden said, promising that “anyone who’s lost a loved one or whose home has been damaged or destroyed is going to get help immediately.”
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell arrived on Maui over the weekend. Biden said he directed her to streamline requests for aid.
Vice President Kamala Harris said last week that she and Biden weren’t planning to visit the island because “we don’t want to distract from the resources that need to go in to the victims of this tragedy, and of course the needs of the first responders.”
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) said recovery efforts would be lengthy, “but we have the support from every level of government, especially given President Biden’s approval of our disaster declaration request today.”
The death toll from the disaster has climbed to 93 as authorities continue searching in the Lahaina community that was razed by a wildfire last week.
Boebert’s tweet attracted hundreds of critical responses from social media users.
Some noted that Biden had already mobilized support. Others accused Boebert of failing to do anything helpful herself, like providing information about ways to support those on Maui to her millions of followers.
Since the fires began, this is the only mention of #Maui by Lauren Boebert. Not a call for donations. Not a repost of someone gathering care packages for the victims. Not a repost of a go fund me. She doesn’t care about the people or homes destroyed, just scoring #maga points. https://t.co/KYDcOL8Fqn
— Coach D (@CoachD_Speaks) August 14, 2023
Hawaii Governor Josh Green yesterday:
“We have the support from every level of government, especially given President Biden’s approval of our disaster declaration request today.” https://t.co/Te1KvgegAq— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) August 13, 2023
Projection to English translation: There is a total crisis in Maui.
3000 destroyed homes.
80 people dead.
Joe Biden has declared it a national disaster, FEMA is on the ground.
Because, as an adult, he can be in Delaware and still govern.
There is no bottom for me. https://t.co/RedscNsxlzpic.twitter.com/dD2UVYhx0Y— CRMWebb (@cynroseM) August 13, 2023
The last thing the rescue effort needs is a presidential entourage. They’re encouraging homeowners who live off the island to let their houses open to locals and firsts responders. They don’t need more hotel rooms taken up by Secret Service. It’s an island, not Baton Rouge. https://t.co/AteGfBBn4f
— Bruce Godfrey (@BruceGodfrey) August 13, 2023
What are you talking about? He already approved Maui for disaster relief and has been doing all he can up to this point. You want him to do what, land into Maui while the wildfires are still going? Come on Congresswoman, stop using other people’s grief for political gain. That’s…
— Reggie Townsend (@Reggieman30) August 12, 2023
Boebert is completely clueless. President Biden has already declared Maui a disaster area and is sending emergency supplies and the National Guard. Boebert is trying to use the victims of the Maui victims to her advantage.
District 3 for God’s sake vote for Adam Frisch in 2024! https://t.co/16cGI0AO3B— Rocky Mountain Progressives 💙 (@RockiesProgs) August 13, 2023
A number of Hawaii residents chimed in.
Hawaii state Rep. Adrian Tam (D) slammed Boebert for failing to do “the bare minimum to help us like reposting a link for donations to the Maui Strong Fund,” as he encouraged supporters to donate to the aid fund.
Lauren can’t even do the bare minimum to help us like reposting a link for donations to the Maui Strong Fund. Please donate to: https://t.co/c67tTHqZUdhttps://t.co/ngIr1qmDSR
— Adrian Tam 🇺🇦🌻 (@adrianktam) August 13, 2023
Activist Delilah Asterales, who uses the handle @HawaiiDelilah, told Boebert: “Hawaii is my home. You don’t speak for me,” and pointed to the federal response on the ground in Lahaina. She accused Boebert of exploiting “the pain of us in Maui in order to attack Joe Biden.”
Maui is my home. You don't speak for me. @Potus immediately declared a "major disaster" in Hawaii & ordered all available federal assets to help with response. The head of FEMA is ON THE GROUND in Lahaina with Gov Green to determine immediate & long term needs. You are despicable pic.twitter.com/PGHB8Kxk3W
— HawaiiDelilah™ 🟦 #MauiStrong (@HawaiiDelilah) August 13, 2023
A word to voters in Colorado's 3rd District: @AdamForColorado is running to unseat Boebert. I don't know him but I am pretty sure he will not embarrass you or exploit the pain of us in Maui in order to attack Joe Biden. Now is a good time to support him.https://t.co/KwPgxrZKED
— HawaiiDelilah™ 🟦 #MauiStrong (@HawaiiDelilah) August 13, 2023
And user @GaryChun, whose bio lists his location as Honolulu, had his own message for Boebert and her House Republican colleagues:
Rep. Boebert, we in Hawai'i look forward to you and your House Republican colleagues to expedite help to the Maui community affected by this tragedy ... as soon as you get your head out of your ʻākea. Mahalo. https://t.co/JsDtnYKFYR
— Gary Chun 💙 (@garychun) August 13, 2023