President Joe Biden on Thursday delivered a pointy rebuke of Donald Trump for spreading misinformation concerning the federal authorities’s hurricane response.
Whereas talking on Hurricane Milton on the White Home, Biden was requested if he is spoken to Trump straight.
“Are you kidding me?” Biden responded. “Mr. President Trump, former President Trump, get a life, man. Assist these folks.”
Because of such misinformation, Biden stated, responders on the bottom aiding victims are dealing with threats.
Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, too, stated he was involved about people concerned within the restoration efforts being focused on-line.
“We’re seeing horrific hate speech of all sorts, propagated on on-line platforms. That deplorable speech has an affect on folks’s lives. And it’s also a motivating power for folks to do hurt. And it’s got to cease,” Mayorkas stated to ABC Information Chief White Home Correspondent Mary Bruce throughout Thursday’s White Home press briefing.
President Joe Biden speaks concerning the affect of Hurricane Milton within the Eisenhower Govt Workplace Constructing in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 10, 2024.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP through Getty Pictures
The White Home and different administration officers are forcefully pushing again on false claims about FEMA support for storm victims. Among the many rampant rumors are that individuals can solely obtain $750, that FEMA funding goes towards migrants as an alternative of victims and that individuals’s property will probably be seized — all of which officers stress aren’t true.
Biden was requested by a reporter if he would do something to attempt to maintain Trump accountable, after Biden pledged on Thursday to go after those that search to benefit from victims by price-gouging or scamming.
“The general public will maintain him accountable,” Biden stated. “You higher — the press — maintain him accountable as a result of the reality.”
He added he had no plans to talk with Trump.
The Southeast has been ravaged by back-to-back storms in latest weeks.
The demise toll from Helene has surpassed 230, with a whole bunch extra displaced, throughout a number of states. In Florida, there have been at the very least 10 confirmed fatalities on account of Milton and hundreds of thousands have been left with out energy.
White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds a press briefing on the White Home in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 10, 2024. Jean-Pierre was joined by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Safety Alejandro Mayorkas nearly.
Annabelle Gordon/Reuters
President Biden spent Thursday morning calling native officers and lawmakers, together with Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott and Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.
Luna, who represents Florida’s thirteenth Congressional District, has been an avid spreader of misinformation, together with false claims about migrants receiving FEMA funds that ought to have gone to hurricane victims.
Regardless of their name, Luna nonetheless had that lie about migrants pinned to the highest of her X account on Thursday and he or she shortly unfold one other falsehood that prompted a swift response from the White Home.
“Simply bought off the telephone with [President] Biden. He’s personally overseeing that FEMA doesn’t create issues with the particles removing and is supportive of the 15 Billion in FEMA funds ONLY FOR Hurricane victims,” she initially posted on X, apparently in a reference to the false declare FEMA catastrophe funds have been going to assist migrants. “If Congress goes right into a particular session we are able to get it handed instantly. This must occur. [House] Speaker Johnson name us again,” she stated.
Then got here a put up that the White Home took situation with: “He’s additionally agreed that $750 for hurricane victims is unacceptable. Will probably be in direct contact with him to resolve this. Thanks [White House].”
White Home principal deputy communications director Herbie Ziskend pushed again.
“Because the President stated on the decision: it is unacceptable to sow misinformation and deceive hurricane victims into believing solely $750 is offered. That is NOT true,” Ziskend wrote. “The $750 is *instantly* obtainable to eligible survivors. As well as, survivors might qualify for extra FEMA monetary help, together with to restore storm-related harm to properties and property, and discover a momentary place to remain.”
