WASHINGTON — With Hurricane Milton set to make landfall on Wednesday night, President Joe Biden slammed former President Donald Trump for continuing to spread misinformation about the federal government’s response to Hurricane Helene and its preparation for Milton.
As he gathered his team to at the White House to discuss the storm, Biden slammed the rhetoric as “irresponsible”.
“Over the last few weeks, there has been a reckless, irresponsible, and relentless promotion of disinformation and outright lies that are disturbing people,” he said.
“It’s undermining confidence in the incredible rescue and recovery work that has already been taken and will continue to be taken, and it’s harmful to those who need help the most,” Biden continued. “There is simply no place for this to happen.”
Biden along with Vice President Kamala Harris, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and other officials have denounced Trump’s claims.
Hurricane Helene has killed more than 230 people and left hundreds displaced.
Later in the day, Biden delivered remarks to warn Florida residents about the dangers of Milton and promised the full support of the federal government to the state. He then called out Trump and his Republican allies, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) for their false claims about the FEMA aid available for people.
“Former President Trump has led the onslaught of lies. Assertions have been made that property is being confiscated. That’s simply not true,” Biden said. “They’re saying people impacted by these storms will receive $750 in cash and no more. That’s simply not true. They’re saying the money needed for this crisis is being diverted to migrants. What a ridiculous thing to say, it’s not true.”
“Now the claims are getting even more bizarre. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, the congresswoman of Georgia, is now saying the federal government is literally controlling the weather,” he continued. “We’re controlling the weather. It’s beyond ridiculous.”
Trump continued to spread his unfounded claims Wednesday at a rally in battleground Pennsylvania, calling the “worst hurricane response since Katrina.”
Milton is expected to make landfall late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm as the President called it the “storm of the century.”
“No one should be confused,” he said. “Milton still carries incredible destructiveness that can wipe out communities.”
