President Joe Biden will visit Florida this week after a condominium collapsed in a Miami suburb last week, killing at least 10 people and leaving dozens more unaccounted for.
Speaking outside the White House on Tuesday, Biden said he would visit the Miami suburb “hopefully as early as Thursday.” The White House confirmed the plan shortly after and said the president would be joined by first lady Jill Biden.
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During the visit, Biden and the first lady will “thank heroic first responders,” and “meet with families forced to endure this terrible tragedy … to offer them comfort as search and rescue efforts continue,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Asked whether Biden would meet with local officials, Psaki said she had nothing to announce.
The announcement by the president marked a shift from one day earlier.
On Monday, Psaki said a trip wasn’t planned.
The White House “always wants to ensure that we’re not pulling from local resources,” she said at the time.
“We don’t want to draw up resources that are needed in the ongoing search and rescue operation and efforts,” she added. “We will remain in close contact with officials on the ground, and certainly, if there’s a trip to preview or announce to all of you, I will do that.”
Biden and federal officials have been working with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on the site’s search and rescue operations, with Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell traveling to the town this week.
After speaking with Criswell, Biden said in a statement that the FEMA official “reiterated that words can’t describe the scene on the ground.”
“My administration is ready to provide any support or assistance that is needed,” Biden added.
On Monday, Psaki said Biden would urge a federal investigation.
“He does believe there should be an investigation,” Psaki said. “Certainly, we want to plan for a constructive role we can play with federal resources in getting to the bottom of it and preventing it from happening in the future.”
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Officials in Florida are still searching for a cause for the collapse.
