President Biden spoke briefly after meeting with firefighting officials about the wildfires raging in Los Angeles.
"We're prepared to do anything and everything as long as it takes to contain these fires and help reconstruct," Biden said. He signed a disaster declaration with California Gov. Gavin Newsom by his side.
"It's gonna be a hell of a long way," Biden continued. "It's gonna take time. But the government is here to stay, as long as you need us. Give everything you need. Anything you asked and haven't gotten yet?"
Newsom expressed deep gratitude for the federal support. "It’s impossible for me to express the level of appreciation," he said.
Then, Biden shifted the focus unexpectedly. He announced he had become a great-grandfather. "The good news is I'm a great-grandfather as of today," he said, smiling, before declining reporters' questions.
Kristin Crowley, Los Angeles fire chief, highlighted the intensity of the Pacific Palisades fire. She described the "high, high, high winds" as a major threat. In her 25 years of experience, she said she had never seen such conditions.
The fires have been devastating. At least two people have died, and over 30,000 residents have been evacuated. The flames have consumed around 22 square miles so far.
Meanwhile, President-elect Trump took a swipe at Newsom on Truth Social. He used a nickname for the governor and blamed him for resisting a water plan to protect endangered species, calling it a failure.
"He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt but didn’t care about the people of California," Trump said. "Now the ultimate price is being paid."
Some fire hydrants in Los Angeles County ran dry during the overnight battle. Officials explained the municipal water system couldn’t handle the overwhelming demand created by the wildfires.