Biden cancels Rome trip to manage California wildfire response

Jan. 9 (UPI) -- White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday that President Joe Biden nixed a trip to the Vatican to see Pope Francis this week so he could remain focused on the Southern California wildfires damaging the densely populated Los Angeles region.

She said that Biden wanted to engage in "directing the full federal response in the days ahead" to the fires that have led to five reported deaths, thousands of charred acres, and evacuations. Jean-Pierre said additional details on Biden's new agenda will be forthcoming soon.

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