(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden scrapped a planned trip to Rome and Vatican City as California races to contain several fires burning in and around Los Angeles.
Biden will stay in the U.S. to “remain focused on directing the full federal response in the days ahead,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
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Biden was due to leave Thursday for his last planned overseas trip as president, which would’ve included a meeting with Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and president, Sergio Mattarella. He was also due to meet with Pope Francis, in what was to be a deeply personal farewell visit for Biden, an observant Roman Catholic who frequently cites his faith when explaining policy decisions.
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