Trump Attempts Political Gain from Hurricane Helene’s Devastation
Donald Trump has been actively working to leverage the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, which has devastated six southeastern states and resulted in the deaths of at least 200 individuals. The former president has criticized Joe Biden and Kamala Harris‘ response to the disaster, claiming that their administration has received “POOR GRADES” for their handling of the crisis, despite recent bipartisan praise for their response efforts.
Trump’s Accusations and Mischaracterizations
Trump has alleged that the Biden administration is intentionally withholding disaster aid from Republican jurisdictions affected by the storm. At a rally in Saginaw, Michigan, he falsely stated that Democrats “stole” relief funds meant for storm victims, suggesting that those funds were redirected to support illegal immigrants. He further alleged that Kamala Harris allocated FEMA funds for housing illegal migrants, a claim which has been debunked.
Reactions from Political Peers
These allegations are particularly ironic, as reports indicate that Trump, during his presidency, was reticent to provide assistance to areas he perceived as politically unfavorable. Former White House officials have recounted that Trump only approved disaster relief for California’s wildfires in 2018 after being shown that Orange County, which had voted for Trump, had more supporters than some critical swing states.
An ex-official from Trump’s administration, Olivia Troye, has indicated that such behavior from Trump would not surprise those familiar with his presidency. She expressed concern that relief efforts could be judged based on voters’ political affiliations, stating that such an approach would be deeply troubling for affected citizens.
Bipartisan Praise for Biden Administration’s Response
Notably, several Republican governors from Hurricane-affected states have praised the Biden administration’s disaster response, contradicting Trump’s claims. Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp stated that Biden’s administration responded promptly to the needs of the state. He asserted that despite Trump’s accusations, the federal government had been responsive and supportive of their needs.
The Role of Right-Wing Commentary
In addition, Trump’s narrative has been reinforced by right-wing figures, including Elon Musk, who have amplified false claims regarding the administration’s purported failings in response to the storm. The claims have sparked criticism, with Trump’s allies, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, suggesting outlandish theories such as Democrats controlling the weather to target Republican areas.
As Trump continues to use Hurricane Helene for political leverage, the crisis raises important questions about the role of disaster relief in political contexts and how leadership handles natural disasters in a polarized political climate.
