Hurricane Helene has left a path of destruction across the Southeast, especially in North Carolina. While many people are working hard to recover, Donald Trump used the disaster to push another baseless accusation. In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that the federal government and North Carolina’s Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, were not helping Republican areas affected by the hurricane.
Trump offered no proof for this accusation, and it seems like another attempt to create political tension during a crisis. Trump wrote, “I don’t like the reports that I’m getting about the Federal Government, and the Democrat Governor of the State, going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas.” However, he didn’t mention where these “reports” came from, making his claims even more questionable.
Andrew Bates, a spokesperson for President Joe Biden, quickly responded to Trump’s claims. Bates pointed out that Trump’s statement doesn’t match reality. He shared what Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia said: “The President just called me yesterday afternoon and he said, ‘hey, what do you need?’ He offered that if there’s other things we need, just to call him directly, which I appreciate.”
Has Trump told Gov. Kemp, who said this today?
“The President just called me yesterday afternoon.”
“And he just said ‘hey, what do you need?’”
“He offered that if there’s other things we need, just to call him directly, which, I appreciate that.” https://t.co/ABiE0AE0GS pic.twitter.com/Y9WcwULJes
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewJBates46) September 30, 2024
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This shows that Biden is offering help to all states, regardless of political beliefs, unlike what Trump claimed. Trump’s false accusations about Hurricane Helene are not new. He has a history of politicizing natural disasters. For example, during his time as president, Trump downplayed the damage from wildfires in California, a state that often votes for Democrats. He also refused to send more aid to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, even though the island desperately needed help.
This time, with Hurricane Helene, Trump is once again using a disaster to push a political agenda. But Bates made it clear that Biden is focused on helping people, no matter where they live or who they vote for. President Biden has already approved disaster declarations for both North Carolina and Florida, ensuring that these states get the emergency funds they need to recover. Biden even said, “Every available resource, as fast as possible, to your communities, to rescue, recover, and begin rebuilding.”
Trump’s attempt to blame Democrats for ignoring Republican areas doesn’t hold up. Most of North Carolina votes Republican, so it would be impossible to exclude Republicans from relief efforts. What Trump is doing is playing politics during a time of crisis, and that’s dangerous.
Andrew Bates has become an important voice, showing that the Biden administration is focused on recovery, not on dividing people. Trump’s history of spreading false information during disasters, like with the COVID-19 pandemic or Hurricane Maria, only hurts the people who need help the most. Bates’ response highlights that true leadership means offering help, not causing more confusion.
In essence, Trump’s claims about Hurricane Helene are not true and don’t help anyone. Andrew Bates made it clear that President Biden is focused on helping everyone who needs it. Instead of spreading stories, it’s better to focus on real help and recovery. The people affected by the hurricane deserve support, not false accusations.
Featured image via Screengrab
