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Analysis, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Opinion

GOP Senator In NC Publicly Contradicts Trump’s Claims About Hurricane Response

Trump seems scared.

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571 points

In a sharp contrast to former President Donald Trump’s claims about the federal response to Hurricane Helene, Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has publicly commended the disaster relief efforts. During a recent visit to a local camp in Western North Carolina, Tillis emphasized the complexities of the region and praised the coordinated efforts of local, state, and federal agencies.

Trump’s Criticism of the Hurricane Response
Former President Trump sharply criticized the federal government’s response to Hurricane Helene, calling it the worst since Hurricane Katrina. Likely concerned he could lose this upcoming election and end up in jail – he’s attacking Harris for the Biden administration response:

“There’s nobody that’s handled a hurricane or storm worse than what they’re doing right now,” Trump said. “Kamala spent all her FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal migrants. Many of whom should not be in our country.”

Even the Associated Press which is known for being very down the middle, non-controversial said Trump has been spreading falsehoods (and this was 5 days ago) HERE:

 Donald Trump repeatedly spread falsehoods Monday about the federal response to Hurricane Helene despite claiming not to be politicizing the disaster as he toured hard-hit areas in south Georgia.

The former president and Republican nominee claimed upon landing in Valdosta that President Joe Biden was “sleeping” and not responding to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who he said was “calling the president and hasn’t been able to get him.” He repeated the claim at an event with reporters after being told Kemp said he had spoken to Biden.

Trump, writing on his social media platform Monday, also claimed without evidence that the federal government and North Carolina’s Democratic governor were “going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas.” Asheville, which was devastated by the storm, is solidly Democratic, as is much of Buncombe County, which surrounds it.

Despite Trump’s condemnation, Senator Thom Tillis painted a different picture during his visit to the ground in North Carolina. Tillis commended the ongoing efforts and described how the challenging terrain in Western North Carolina made the response particularly difficult but effective nonetheless.

Tillis Praises Disaster Relief Efforts in NC
Speaking from an assistance camp, Tillis emphasized the need to understand the unique geography of Western North Carolina:

“We have a certain muscle memory and experience with positioning assets out on the coast because you have time. Here, this was right out of a new playbook. Anyone who thinks that any level of government could have been perfectly prepared clearly doesn’t understand the situation.”

Tillis expressed pride in the collaborative response:

“They’re doing a great job. We’re working together, and I’m pretty proud of the effort that’s been done.”

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This position contradicts Trump’s criticism of the response, with Tillis signaling that despite the hurdles, state and federal teams were handling the crisis efficiently.

Misinformation About the Response
A key issue complicating public perception of the federal response has been misinformation. Trump’s claims of failure sparked a wave of online critiques, but many individuals on the ground in Western North Carolina have shared a very different view.

Chef José Andrés, known for his work with the World Central Kitchen, highlighted the efficiency of the response, sharing footage of helicopters delivering supplies:

Civilians also shared their experiences, disputing claims of blockades and failures in the relief effort:

Rural Areas Still Facing Challenges
While Tillis and many others have praised the efforts, there remains much work to be done, particularly in the more rural areas of Western North Carolina. The difficult terrain and less developed infrastructure in these areas mean that relief efforts are taking longer to reach those in need. However, this delay doesn’t mean the federal or state governments are failing.

Tillis addressed these challenges directly, acknowledging that:

“There’s always work to be done. We’re working out the kinks behind the scenes, but the effort on the ground is impressive.”

The Senator’s comments reflect an understanding that while the situation in rural regions remains difficult, the coordinated effort between local, state, and federal agencies is making progress.

Featured image via screengrab

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Shay Maz

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Shay Maz has been a political writer for many years. This is a pseudonym for writing; if you need to contact her - you may do so here: https://x.com/SheilaGouldman

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