Harris goes after Trump’s false claims about FEMA’s storm response

Vice President Kamala Harris went after Donald Trump for his false claims about FEMA within the wake of devastating storms within the Southeast throughout an look on ABC’s “The View” on Tuesday.

“It is profound and it’s the top of irresponsibility and, frankly, callousness,” Harris stated of Trump’s claims. “Lives are actually at stake proper now.”

Harris described private tales she heard from these affected by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath after touring to Georgia and North Carolina.

“Persons are shedding their house with no hope of ever with the ability to reconstruct or return, and the concept any person could be enjoying political video games for the sake of himself — however that is so constant about Donald Trump,” she stated. “He places himself earlier than the wants of others. I concern that he actually lacks empathy on a really primary degree to care about struggling of different folks and perceive the position of a frontrunner is to not beat folks down, it is to raise folks up.”

Harris’ sit-down on “The View” marked her first reside interview since changing into the Democratic nominee. She is ramping up her media appearances this week with now only one month till Election Day.

Harris was additionally requested a few remark from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accusing Harris of solely getting concerned in storm response out of political motivation.

“She has no position on this,” DeSantis stated on Monday. “In actual fact, she’s been vice chairman for three-and-a-half years. I’ve handled various storms underneath this administration. She has by no means contributed something to any of those efforts, and so what I feel is egocentric is attempting to blunder into this.”

ABC Information reported DeSantis declined to take a name with Harris within the final a number of days, although DeSantis later stated he was unaware of the tried outreach.

“I’ve known as and talked inside the course of this disaster, this most up-to-date disaster, Democrat and Republican governors — known as, taken the decision, answered the decision, had a dialog,” Harris stated. “So, clearly this isn’t a difficulty that’s about partisanship or politics for sure leaders however possibly is for others.”

Harris then turned to Hurricane Milton and urged any Floridians tuning in to the present to heed to calls to evacuate. The storm is predicted to make landfall on Wednesday night as probably a Class 4 hurricane.

“This one goes to be totally different, and that is why I known as the governor about what Florida has obtained when it comes to influence,” she stated.

President Biden, after being briefed on Hurricane Milton on Tuesday, was requested if Harris had been useful in making ready for the storm. Biden nodded his head and stated “sure.”

Biden additionally criticized these spreading misinformation about FEMA within the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, calling it “un-American.”

“It places folks in sure issues the place they panic. The place they actually, actually, actually fear,” Biden stated. “They suppose we’re not being taken care of. And it truly is — that is going to sound, I’m gonna use an outdated phrase, it’s un-American. It truly is. Persons are scared to loss of life.”

Biden stated he was in a position to communicate with all of the governors of states that might be affected by Hurricane Milton, together with a name with DeSantis final night time. Biden stated DeSantis has been “cooperative” and that the Florida governor stated he is obtained all the pieces he wants.

“I made clear they need to attain out, together with to me straight, with all the pieces else they might want as they see this storm hit,” Biden stated. “I gave them my private quantity to contact me right here within the White Home.”

ABC Information’ Molly Nagle contributed to this report.