Former President Donald Trump recently attacked federal emergency workers during his inspection of Hurricane Helene‘s damage in North Carolina. This criticism comes amid challenges faced by the workers, including harassment and misinformation.
Trump dismissed concerns about the hurricane impacting North Carolina’s upcoming election results. He addressed questions about his comments on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), defending his criticism despite threats from armed militias causing FEMA to pause their work.
As per the news agency AP, Trump reiterated an unfounded claim, previously refuted by Congressman Chuck Edwards, that FEMA redirected resources to help undocumented migrants.
“You have to let people know how they’re performing,” Trump said in Swannanoa, near Asheville. “If they’re doing a good job, we should acknowledge that. But if they’re not, why shouldn’t we point it out?”
With the election fast approaching, both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are ramping up their campaigns. Trump made three stops in North Carolina on Monday, including a rally in Greenville and a faith leaders’ event in Concord, where he touched on key issues like transgender athletes and deportation. He claimed that no president had fought for Christians as he had during his administration.
Harris, meanwhile, spent Monday campaigning in critical states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, holding discussions with Republican Liz Cheney, aimed at attracting voters dissatisfied with Trump.
Hurricane Helene disrupts voting in North Carolina
Hurricane Helene has forced many counties in North Carolina to relocate polling stations, leaving thousands of voters displaced or without power. Both parties are working hard to ensure voter turnout remains high, despite these disruptions.
Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley reassured voters that every effort was being made to inform them about the changes, while Democrats, led by State Senator Natalie Murdock, have mobilised workers in affected areas to assist with voter outreach and relief efforts.
Despite the widespread damage, Trump remained confident in the state’s election process, stating, “I think they’ve got a pretty solid system here.”
Governor Cooper urges for non-partisan recovery
Governor Roy Cooper called for unity in the aftermath of the storm, urging Trump to avoid spreading misinformation about the recovery process. He stressed the importance of providing both help and honesty to storm victims, saying, “Storm recovery should not be politicised.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also condemned Trump’s remarks, describing them as dangerous and unhelpful. She noted that FEMA had deployed 5,500 personnel to North Carolina and Florida and had already approved $2 billion in federal assistance.
North Carolina election dynamics heat up
North Carolina, with its history of split-ticket voting, is drawing significant attention in the run-up to the election. Democrats are hoping to capitalise on recent controversies surrounding Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, alongside Trump’s criticisms, to bolster support for Vice President Harris and Democratic candidate Josh Stein.
When asked about his endorsement of Robinson, Trump sidestepped the issue, stating, “I’m not up to date with the current state of the race.”