Kamala Harris Cancels Final Foreign Trip Due to California Wildfires

TDT | Manama

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Vice President Kamala Harris has canceled her upcoming foreign trip, originally scheduled for January 13-17, citing the ongoing wildfires in her home state of California. Her office confirmed the decision on Thursday.

This move follows a similar one by President Joe Biden, who also scrapped a planned trip to Rome to visit Pope Francis and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, opting to remain in Washington instead.

Harris had intended to visit Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany as part of her final international engagements before the conclusion of her term. The itinerary had signaled her desire to continue playing a prominent role on the global stage, even after the 2024 presidential election, in which Donald Trump is set to take office on January 20.

Firefighters are still battling several wildfires in the Los Angeles area, with conditions worsening.

During a White House meeting with Biden on Thursday, Harris acknowledged the ongoing threat posed by wildfires, emphasizing that they are a year-round challenge. “It doesn’t matter what month of the year,” Harris remarked. “We should be ready.”

Harris' home, located in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, is within an evacuation zone due to the fires.