Trump, in Georgia, assaults Biden and Harris on Helene response, Biden says he is ‘mendacity’

Former President Donald Trump spoke at a furnishings retailer in Hurricane Helene-ravaged Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday the place he stated the day wasn’t about politics — solely to make use of the second to proceed to slam President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for what he claimed was a poor response.

“As you realize, our nation is within the ultimate weeks of a hard-fought nationwide election. However in a time like this, when a disaster hits, when our fellow residents cry out in want, none of that issues. We’re not speaking about politics now. Now we have to all get collectively and get this solved. We want loads of assist. They need to have loads of assist down right here,” Trump stated of the Georgia group hit by the hurricane.

However on the similar time Trump urged Biden and Harris weren’t doing sufficient within the aftermath of the hurricane, which hit a number of states together with Georgia and North Carolina — two battlegrounds within the upcoming election.

“They’re being very nonresponsive,” he stated, claiming that that they had failed to talk to Georgia’s GOP Gov. Brian Kemp when Kemp stated that they had.

“Let me get this straight — he’s mendacity,” Biden shot again at a late afternoon storm briefing within the Oval Workplace when reporters requested about Trump’s declare concerning the response. “I do not know why he does this, and the rationale I get so offended about it — I do not care about what he says about me, I care what he communicates to the folks which can be in want. He implies that we’re not doing every little thing attainable. We’re. We’re.

“So, it is merely not true. It is irresponsible,” Biden stated.

The Trump marketing campaign stated it partnered with humanitarian help nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse to convey aid provides to Georgia. A marketing campaign official claimed it introduced one gasoline tanker and two vehicles stuffed with provides to Valdosta.

Throughout his remarks, the previous president stated, “Now we have loads of truckloads of various gadgets, from oil to water to all kinds of apparatus that is going to assist them.”

Nevertheless, in a fastidiously curated assertion, the marketing campaign later stated it had “partnered” with Samaritan’s Purse, suggesting Trump did not independently convey provides, solely partnered with the nonprofit already on the scene.

“President Trump partnered with Samaritans Purse to offer truckloads of vital, a lot wanted sources for the folks of Georgia together with gas and building provides,” Karoline Leavitt, a Trump marketing campaign spokesperson, stated.

The marketing campaign didn’t reply to a number of questions asking to make clear what it meant by “partnered.”

Earlier Monday, Biden stated he has directed his crew to “present each, each out there useful resource as quick as attainable” to the affected communities to assist them rescue, get better and start to rebuild.

Then on Monday afternoon, Harris spoke at Federal Emergency Administration Company headquarters in Washington, the place she’d gone to get a briefing after canceling marketing campaign occasions and flying again from Las Vegas.

“I’ve obtained common briefings on the impression of Hurricane Helene, together with from Administrator Criswell,” she advised FEMA staff. “And over the previous 24 hours, I’ve spoken with Governor Kemp of Georgia, Governor Cooper of North Carolina, and lots of native officers.”

She stated she would go to when she would not disrupt the response.

“I’ve shared with them that we’ll do every little thing in our energy to assist communities reply and get better, and I’ve shared with them that I plan to be on the bottom as quickly as attainable. However as quickly as attainable with out disrupting any emergency response operations, as a result of that should be the best precedence, and the primary order of enterprise,” she stated.

Homeland Safety Adviser Liz Sherwood Randall on Monday stated there are at present 3,500 federal response personnel deployed and supporting response efforts throughout the area, and extra personnel is anticipated to reach within the coming days.

“Search and rescue efforts by state, native, and federal companions are ongoing, and almost 600 further personnel will arrive within the area within the coming days, growing the whole variety of city search and rescue personnel to over 1,250,” she advised reporters.

FEMA and the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers are additionally getting turbines able to be deployed to states that request them.

Whereas communication stays a serious problem for the impacted space, Sherwood-Randall stated, “FEMA will set up 30 Starlink receivers in western North Carolina to offer speedy connectivity for these in best want.”

Biden, whereas returning house from the seashore on Sunday, was adamant that his administration was doing every little thing attainable to assist the affected communities.

Requested by ABC Information is there are extra sources the federal authorities could possibly be giving, Biden responded, “no, we have given them.”

“Now we have pre-planned a big quantity, regardless that they did not ask for it but — hadn’t requested for it but,” Biden stated Sunday.

“We’re deploying meals, water and turbines, and dealing to revive state and native leaders, we’ll present no matter assist they want within the days and weeks forward,” Harris stated Sunday whereas rallying in Las Vegas.

On Monday, Biden stated referred to as Hurricane Helene “not only a catastrophic storm, it is historic, historical past, making storm,” and pledged to go to the impacted space as soon as he can accomplish that with out being “disruptive,” hopefully later this week.

“I additionally need you to know I am dedicated to touring to impacted areas as quickly as attainable. However, I have been advised that it would be disruptive if I did it proper now, we is not going to try this on the threat of diverting or delaying any, any of the response belongings wanted to take care of this disaster,” Biden stated Monday. “My first duty is to get all the assistance wanted to these impacted areas.”

Requested if Trump’s go to to Georgia Monday was inflicting a disruption, Biden replied “I haven’t got any concept.”

White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated Monday that Biden was “taking warning to keep away from utilizing vital sources that’s wanted proper now, on the highway, that, on the bottom that individuals want,” and added that “needs to be everybody’s prime consideration proper now.”

Requested if there requests for the Trump to delay his go to, Jean-Pierre did not interact straight, repeating Biden’s want to not take away from sources, however including “he believes all people ought to adhere-adhere to that.”

Hurricane Helene’s storm surge, wind injury, and inland flooding precipitated deviation and casualties in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, flooding neighborhoods, stranding residents, demolishing properties and toppling timber. The storm has killed a minimum of 107 folks and left dozens lacking.

ABC Information’ Molly Nagle, Cheyenne Haslett, Fritz Farrow, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Will McDuffie and Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report.