Biden Becomes First Sitting U.S. President to Visit Amazon

President Joe Biden is set to become the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon rainforest on Sunday, emphasizing the urgent need to combat global warming, a point often dismissed by incoming President Donald Trump. His trip to Manaus, Brazil, will involve meetings with local and Indigenous leaders focused on Amazon conservation, aligning with Brazil's President Lula da Silva's commitment to end deforestation by 2030. Despite Biden's initial pledge of $500 million to support the Amazon Fund, the U.S. has only delivered a fraction of that amount. This visit occurs amid a backdrop of heightened concern over Trump's plans to roll back environmental regulations and potentially withdraw the U.S. from international climate agreements. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan highlighted the importance of Biden's commitment to climate action, framing it as a defining aspect of his presidency. The Amazon's role in absorbing carbon dioxide makes its preservation critical in the global fight against climate change.