Vice President Kamala Harris has lambasted former President Donald Trump for spreading false information about the federal response to Hurricane Helene’s devastation, calling his actions “incredibly irresponsible.” Harris’ remarks come as a new storm, Category 5 Hurricane Milton, bears down on Florida, just weeks before Election Day. Trump has made several incorrect claims about the federal government’s efforts to aid victims of Helene, including alleging that aid is being withheld from Republican disaster victims and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has run out of money because of funding allocated to programs benefiting undocumented immigrants.
Harris countered Trump’s claims, saying that Fema has ample resources available to assist those affected by the storm. She emphasized that people are entitled to these resources and urged them to apply for the help available. Her comments highlighted the critical importance of accurate information during emergencies, with Harris stating that “mis- and disinformation being pushed out there by the former president about what is available, particularly to the survivors of Helene” is deeply concerning.
Harris also criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, accusing him of “playing political games” and engaging in “gamesmanship” in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. She suggested that DeSantis’ actions were selfish and prioritized politics over the needs of those affected by the storm. Harris’ office claimed that the vice president had reached out to DeSantis after the storm, but DeSantis disputed this, saying he was unaware of the call and that no one from his office had contacted him.
Donald Trump (Via Donald Trump/Twitter)
DeSantis responded to Harris’ criticism, calling her “delusional” and claiming that she had never contributed to any of the past storm response efforts. He stated that he had worked well with President Joe Biden and Trump during previous hurricanes and that Harris was attempting to politicize the storm for her own campaign. The exchange highlights the partisan tensions surrounding the responses to natural disasters, with Harris and DeSantis on opposite sides of the political spectrum.
Regardless of the politics, one thing is clear: the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and the looming threat of Hurricane Milton demand accurate information and effective aid efforts. As Harris emphasized, it is crucial that resources are available to those affected by the storms and that misinformation does not hinder the recovery process.
