Former President Donald Trump is leveraging Hurricane Helene as a campaign issue, planning a visit to hard-hit Georgia on Monday and criticizing the Biden administration’s response with the November election approaching.
During a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, Trump accused President Biden of being disengaged at his Delaware beach house and criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for attending fundraising events in California while parts of the country suffer from the hurricane’s impact.
Hurricane Helene has claimed at least 84 lives, with the storm striking Florida late Thursday before moving inland through the Southeast and into the Tennessee Valley. It resulted in millions of power outages and billions in damages, particularly affecting swing states Georgia and North Carolina.
After his rally, the Trump campaign announced he would receive a briefing on Helene in Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday, followed by relief efforts and a press briefing. Trump stated that Harris should be in the affected areas rather than fundraising.
Biden informed FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell of his plans to visit impacted areas this week, aiming not to disrupt emergency operations. Harris, briefed by Criswell, emphasized their commitment to supporting affected communities. Biden has approved disaster declarations to assist with housing and repair efforts.
While at his beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Biden received briefings on the storm’s devastation and urged agencies to expedite rescue efforts in North Carolina, where many are without electricity or cell service. He returned to the White House on Sunday afternoon.
The political fallout from disaster responses can significantly affect elected officials’ futures. For example, Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was cited as a reason for his 2020 loss to Biden. During his presidency, Trump faced criticism for his response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017.
Trump promoted his upcoming trip to hurricane-affected areas on Truth Social, questioning why Harris was fundraising during such a crisis. Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed his thoughts for hurricane victims, praising first responders and lamenting the devastation in North Carolina.
During his rally, Trump reiterated familiar criticisms of Biden and Harris, calling them “mentally impaired” and suggesting Democrats would have been better off with Biden as the nominee, despite Harris’s stronger polling against Trump. Many Republicans have urged Trump to concentrate on critical issues as early voting begins in some states.
Biden has historically worked with political opponents in the wake of disasters, including a joint tour with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Following Hurricane Idalia, DeSantis indicated that security measures for presidential visits could hinder recovery efforts.
Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) met with Biden regarding hurricane response and criticized Harris for not being present in the affected areas before Trump announced his visit.
Harris’s campaign also targeted Trump over his comments on climate change during his rally.
FEMA Administrator Criswell has been present at press conferences with DeSantis in Florida and is set to visit North Carolina on Monday.
