(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Democratic presidential nominee Vice-President Kamala Harris arrives in New York, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – Vice President Kamala Harris called former President Donald Trump ‘incredibly irresponsible’ for spreading falsehoods regarding the federal response to the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. She made her remarks as a new hurricane bears down in Florida just weeks before Election Day.
Harris told reporters that the former president was spreading a lot of misinformation, especially to survivors of Helene. She was boarding Air Force Two for a flight to New York. “It is extraordinarily irresponsible. It’s all about him. It’s about him.
Helene has killed over 220 people across six states. Category 5 Hurricane Milton is heading toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Trump has made several false claims following the devastation caused by Helene. He incorrectly claimed that the federal government intentionally withholds aid from Republican disaster victims. He falsely claimed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was out of money, because it had all been spent on programs for illegal immigrants.
Harris said that “FEMA has a lot of resources available for people who need them right now. Resources that help people rebuild, get back on their legs and have a place to go.”
The vice president said, “People are entitled and it’s important that they apply for the support that is available.” “All of those resources were created to help people in emergency situations, knowing that they are entitled to the relief they so rightfully need.”
Trump said, during a visit to Valdosta in Georgia, that President Joe Biden “slept” and did not respond to calls from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. Brian Kemp. Biden had in fact spoken with Kemp, saying of Trump: “He’s a liar, and the Governor told him he was a liar.”
Harris also criticised another prominent Republican, Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis was accused of “playing politics” and “political gamesmanship”, in the wake of Helene.
Harris’ office said that the vice president reached DeSantis in the aftermath of the storm last week. DeSantis claimed Monday that he was unaware that the vice president had called and that “they did not call me.”
DeSantis stated that “it was not anything anyone in my office said to say it was political.”
Harris, when asked about DeSantis’s comments, said that “people in crisis situations are in desperate need of help right now, and playing political games is irresponsible.”
Harris, without naming DeSantis, said: “It’s selfish and it’s about political gamesmanship rather than doing the job you took an oath for, which is to place the people first.”
Karine Jean-Pierre of the White House Press Office told reporters on Monday that DeSantis had been invited to tour Helene’s damage in Florida along with Biden, but he didn’t go.
Jean-Pierre said: “If the president and vice president are reaching out to offer assistance — providing for your constituents, people who live in the state, we can be sure that we’re doing everything we need to from the federal response.” “It is up to the Governor, it is up to him whether he wants us to respond or not.”