Former President Trump continued to hit the Biden-Harris administration for its response to Hurricane Helene amid criticism that he’s making an attempt to politicize the catastrophe.
Trump spoke with Fox Information host Laura Ingraham Saturday at his Butler, Pa., rally, which marked a return to the place the place would-be murderer Thomas Matthew Crooks tried to finish the GOP presidential nominee’s life in July.
Ingraham requested the previous president how he would have responded to the devastation wrought by Helene.
“I might have an incredible staff of individuals right here. They have no folks right here, the individuals who, look, I used to be in North Carolina yesterday. I used to be in Georgia — and Georgia’s completely different. You’ve gotten an excellent governor. He is doing an excellent job. However North Carolina is a catastrophe. And it was additionally hit very arduous. However they do not have the folks they usually’re complaining there is no folks round to assist,” Trump mentioned.
A drone view exhibits injury following Hurricane Helene in Asheville, N.C., on Sept. 29. (Reuters/Marco Bello)
Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell hit again at some claims that company personnel haven’t been seen on the bottom within the aftermath of the storm, telling “Particular Report” on Monday such insinuations are “false.”
“We’ve got been on the bottom since earlier than Hurricane Helene in Florida and earlier than it crossed over [to] North Carolina. And what I might say is simply because any person would not see an individual in a shirt doesn’t suggest that we’re not within the space. We’ve got a staff positioned with the state side-by-side to assist them perceive their wants and transfer assets the place they’re wanted,” Criswell mentioned.
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“We have moved meals and water, and far of what you are seeing delivered by the wonderful Nationwide Guardsmen throughout North Carolina are the provides that we have introduced in. Your entire federal household is there to assist this response. We have been there. We are going to proceed to be there so long as it is wanted to ensure we’re assembly all people’s wants.”
The White Home introduced over the weekend that President Biden ordered 500 active-duty troops to western North Carolina to help in aid efforts, bringing the overall variety of troops to 1,500.
Greater than 6,100 Nationwide Guardsmen and greater than 7,000 federal personnel have been mobilized to assist residents and affected counties.
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The White Home took purpose at Trump and others for allegedly spreading false details about how catastrophe aid funds had been getting used, particularly a declare that FEMA cash was used on migrants in the US.
“No cash is being diverted from catastrophe response wants. None. FEMA’s catastrophe response efforts and particular person help is funded by the Catastrophe Aid Fund, which is a devoted fund for catastrophe efforts. Catastrophe Aid Fund cash has not been diverted to different, non-disaster associated efforts,” a memo from the White Home learn partly.
“You recognize, something I do, they’re going to say, oh, it is political. If I do something good, it doesn’t matter what I do, they’re going to say, oh, he did it for politics. I imply, they might have gotten there approach earlier than me,” Trump mentioned on “The Ingraham Angle.”
Trump, Biden and Kamala Harris have all visited states impacted by Helene.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris greets individuals who had been impacted by Hurricane Helene in Augusta, Ga., Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, as Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson watches at proper. (AP Picture/Carolyn Kaster) (AP Picture/Carolyn Kaster)
Ingraham requested the GOP nominee how he’s working to make sure voters can forged their ballots amid the devastation.
“Republican areas acquired hit very arduous. You recognize that. They acquired hit very, very arduous. I consider – and many individuals are lifeless. You recognize, many individuals are lifeless. They do not even know what it is going to be when it comes to the quantity. You recognize, they’ve lots of are lacking and I am unable to actually communicate to it. I can solely say that I consider they are going to exit and vote, in the event that they need to, crawl to a voting sales space,” Trump mentioned.
Employees, neighborhood members, and enterprise homeowners clear up particles within the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Marshall, North Carolina on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Publish through Getty Photos)
He added Republican Nationwide Committee co-chair and daughter-in-law Lara Trump is working to handle the problem.
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“Different individuals are engaged on it and we’re making an attempt to make it handy for them, too. However they simply misplaced their home. We’re making an attempt to make it handy for them to exit and vote, however we’re doing very nicely in sure areas that we weren’t anticipated to do. Virginia. We’re doing nicely. We’re doing nicely throughout. I feel we will do nice in North Carolina as a result of the response has been so unhealthy to the hurricane. They’ve – this response has been horrific,” Trump continued.
The Related Press reported at least 230 folks have been killed within the wake of Helene.
