President Joe Biden and First lady Jill Biden will visit the site of the deadly condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida, on Thursday.
The president had told reporters of his plans to visit the site “hopefully as early as Thursday.” The White House confirmed the trip for Thursday, according to Politico.
“They want to thank the heroic first responders, search and rescue teams, and everyone who’s been working tirelessly around the clock,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday, CNBC reported.
The Bidens will also meet with families “forced to endure this terrible tragedy, waiting in anguish and heartbreak for word of their loved ones, and to offer them comfort as search and rescue efforts continue.”
The announcement of the trip came after Psaki told reporters the president had wanted to make certain any trip to the site would not pull resources away from ongoing rescue efforts, according to Politico.
“We don’t want to draw resources that are needed in the ongoing search and rescue operations,” Psaki said on Monday. “We will remain in close contact with officials on the ground,” she added.
According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel there are now 150 missing and 11 dead as a result of the partial collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South condo.
Biden wants federal authorities to investigate the condominium collapse, Psaki said
“He does believe there should be an investigation,” Psaki told reporters at a press briefing, the Washington Examiner reported.
“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.”
