President Biden on Wednesday criticized former President Donald Trump for criticizing the federal government's response to Hurricane Helen. As Category 4 Hurricane Milton approaches Florida's west coast, Biden said it could become the “storm of the century.”
The 81-year-old president repeatedly focused on Trump's criticism of recovery efforts after the last storm in a news conference ahead of the Milton devastation ahead.
“In recent weeks, there has been reckless, irresponsible and persistent propaganda of disinformation and outright lies that has left people worried,” Biden said at a news conference with Vice President Kamala Harris and FEMA Secretary DeAnne Criswell. said.
“This undermines confidence in the incredible risk and recovery work that has already been done and will continue to be done. It is harmful to those who need help most. There is simply no place for that to happen,” he added.
“Former President Trump has led an onslaught of lies. There are also claims that property is being confiscated. That's simply not true. They say people affected by these storms will receive $750 in cash. But they say they won't take any more. That's simply not true. What a ridiculous thing to say. Not.”
Biden added: “Now the claims are getting even stranger. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia is now claiming that the federal government literally controls the weather. We is controlling the weather right now. It has to stop. There is no one state of red or blue.”
Republican presidential candidate Trump has made a number of claims about the federal government's response to Hurricane Helen, which killed at least 232 people in six states and became the deadliest hurricane in the United States since Katrina in 2005. are. To avoid helping people in Republican areas. ”
Despite Democratic presidential candidate Harris attacking DeSantis for not answering a phone call the previous day, Biden sought friendly relations with the region's Republican governors, including Florida's Ron DeSantis. He praised them for being “cooperative” and “doing a great job.”
“Governor DeSantis and Mayor [Jane] caster [of Tampa] “If you need additional resources to prepare for Hurricane Milton's landfall, please call me.” Biden tweeted Wednesday. “We'll be here for you for as long as it takes.”
