Vice President Harris suggested on Tuesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) lacks compassion for others when discussing former President Trump's claims that he is directing disaster relief funds to immigrants.
“It's profound, it's the height of irresponsibility, it's the height of insensitivity, frankly. I mean, lives are literally at stake right now,” Harris told the host on ABC's “The View.” When asked by Ana Navarra what she thought about the impact of President Trump's “lies,” she said:
Harris highlighted what she learned from victims on the ground in North Carolina and Georgia during her travels after Hurricane Helen last week.
“People have lost their homes, have no hope of rebuilding and returning, and are wondering if someone is playing political games for their own benefit,” she added. “But this is very consistent about Donald Trump. He puts himself above the needs of others. He has a very basic sense of caring about the suffering of other people. I'm worried that there's a real lack of empathy on that level…especially in times of crisis.”
At a rally in Michigan last week, President Trump criticized the government's response efforts, saying all disaster relief funds went to immigrants.
“Kamala spent all of FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal immigrants, many of whom should not be in our country,” he said.
FEMA pushed back and issued a statement. Fact check page On Friday, he said “no funds were misappropriated” and outlined that “FEMA currently has sufficient funds for immediate response and recovery needs.”
And the White House accused Republicans of false claims about the federal government's response efforts and warned of the consequences of spreading falsehoods when people are in trouble.
Spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre and Fox News reporter Peter Doocy got into an argument Monday over the federal government's response, with Doocy saying, “If there's money for the Lebanese people, what does that say?'' …What if the people of North Carolina don't have enough money?” ” He did not say how much money the U.S. was sending to Lebanon.
“The whole premise of your question is misinformation, sir,” Jean-Pierre retorted.
Doocy cited Biden's recent letter to Congressional leaders asking them to come back from recess to approve more funding for hurricane relief efforts. While calling on the president to return to Congress to pass additional funding, Jean-Pierre said funding has been allocated to areas that will have an impact.
