President Joe Biden has postponed a planned trip to Germany and Angola, scheduled for October 10-15, to focus on the response to Hurricane Milton, the second major storm to hit the US southeast in two weeks, Bloomberg reports.
The decision, announced by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, comes as Category 4 Hurricane Milton barrels towards Florida, threatening widespread damage and posing a significant risk to life. Millions have begun evacuating the Florida coastline, including from the city of Tampa.
With less than a month until Election Day, the administration’s handling of disaster relief has become a potential flash point in the race for the White House.
The trip to Germany and Angola was intended to be Biden’s first abroad since he withdrew from the presidential race in July and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. The itinerary included stops aimed at strengthening alliances for Ukraine and expanding US economic and security links in Africa, both key priorities for the administration.
The cancellation also disrupts planned meetings with world leaders, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who were set to meet Biden at Ramstein Air Force Base.
Further, the postponement jeopardizes Biden’s pledge to visit Africa by the end of his term, a commitment aimed at showcasing Washington’s renewed focus on the continent. The administration has sought to counter claims that Africa has been sidelined in favor of other US priorities, actively working to revitalize ties and push back against growing Chinese and Russian influence.
In 2019, President Donald Trump canceled a trip to Poland as Hurricane Dorian approached Florida, sending then-Vice President Mike Pence in his place.
