Kamala Harris Criticizes Trump for Hurricane Response Attacks \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump for politicizing the federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, accusing him of spreading misinformation. Trump, speaking in Detroit, claimed the Biden administration had mishandled recovery efforts, particularly in North Carolina. Harris responded during a Univision town hall, stressing the importance of focusing on people’s needs rather than playing politics.
Kamala Harris vs. Trump on Hurricanes Quick Looks:
- Harris denounced Trump for using Hurricanes Helene and Milton to criticize the federal response.
- Trump claimed the Biden administration mishandled disaster relief, especially in North Carolina.
- Harris emphasized that disaster recovery should not be politicized and defended federal efforts.
- Biden debunked Trump’s claims about federal assistance, stressing the help was far from capped.
- Both Trump and Harris are campaigning in key swing states, focusing on core voter blocs.
Deep Look:
Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House are pushing back strongly against former President Donald Trump’s recent criticisms of the federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, accusing him of exploiting the disasters for political gain. Speaking at a town hall sponsored by Univision in Las Vegas, Harris was asked about complaints regarding how federal officials have handled disaster recovery. In response, she emphasized the importance of dignity and leadership during crises, stating, “This is not a time for people to play politics.”
Harris’ remarks followed Trump’s appearance at the Detroit Economic Club, where he offered sympathy to those affected by the hurricanes but used the opportunity to claim that the Biden administration’s response was inadequate, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. Trump asserted that “they’ve let those people suffer unjustly,” and accused federal authorities of failing to provide proper aid. For several days, Trump has repeated misleading statements about the government’s assistance, including the false claim that aid to hurricane victims was capped at $750.
Biden quickly responded, dismissing Trump’s accusations during a briefing with Harris in the White House Situation Room on emergency efforts. He addressed the $750 claim directly, explaining that this amount refers to the initial payout for immediate needs, not the total assistance available to victims. “That $750 they’re talking about — it’s just a lie to suggest that’s all they’re going to get,” Biden said. “They’ve got to stop this. It’s bizarre and un-American to spread these falsehoods during a time of crisis.”
Asked if he intended to speak with Trump about the misinformation, Biden responded with a firm “no,” but delivered a pointed message through the media, saying, “Mr. President Trump, former President Trump, get a life, man. Help these people.”
Despite the catastrophic impact of the hurricanes, both Trump and Harris are still actively campaigning in key swing states, each working to energize specific voter bases. Harris is focusing her attention on Hispanic voters in Western states like Nevada and Arizona, while Trump is aiming to rally blue-collar workers, particularly in Michigan. Both states are expected to play pivotal roles in upcoming elections.
During his Detroit speech, Trump took the opportunity to swipe at Harris, suggesting that if she becomes president, “Our whole country will end up like Detroit — a mess.” He went on to criticize the city while also revisiting some of the populist themes that defined his 2016 campaign, including claims that China and other countries have taken advantage of the U.S. by “ripping off” its manufacturing base. Trump promised to impose high tariffs, which he argued would force foreign countries to negotiate better deals with the U.S. “They’ve been screwing us for so many years that we’re allowed to get some of that back,” Trump said, referring to the potential revenue from tariffs.
However, economists caution that Trump’s tariff proposals would likely result in higher costs for consumers and disrupt global trade. Trump also asserted that he could use the tariffs to reduce the U.S. budget deficit, though he provided no details on how this would be achieved. He further muddied the economic debate by confusing the federal debt, budget deficit, and trade imbalances during his speech. While discussing the nearly $36 trillion in national debt, Trump falsely attributed this figure to the U.S. trade deficit with China, conflating two separate economic issues.
Trump also boasted about job creation under his administration, claiming, “We had the highest job numbers in my administration.” However, this claim no longer holds true, as the unemployment rate fell slightly lower under Biden’s administration to 3.4% early last year, a figure not seen in over 50 years.
Meanwhile, Harris is working to strengthen her support among Hispanic voters, especially men. Following the Univision town hall, Harris hosted a rally in Phoenix. Her campaign launched an initiative this week called “Hombres con Harris” (Men for Harris), aiming to connect with Hispanic men through events at Latino-owned businesses, union halls, and community gatherings.
During the town hall, Harris engaged with the audience on a wide range of issues, including immigration. In an emotional moment, a Las Vegas resident, Ivett Castillo, asked Harris about supporting immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for years but still remain in the shadows. Harris responded by pointing out that President Biden had introduced a bill on his first day in office to provide a path to citizenship, though it has yet to be passed by Congress.
Another attendee asked if Harris was planning to replace Biden on the Democratic ticket, to which she responded that Biden had made the “courageous” decision to urge her to run. She praised Biden for “putting country before personal interest” and noted the importance of her role as his vice president.
Polling suggests that Hispanic voters are nearly evenly divided on whether Harris or Trump would handle the economy better, with men more likely to trust Trump and women leaning toward Harris. On immigration, Hispanic men tend to favor Trump, while Hispanic women generally trust Harris more on the issue.
As the 2024 campaign heats up, former President Barack Obama has stepped into the fray, campaigning for Harris at a rally in Pittsburgh. This marks Obama’s first campaign appearance for Harris, and his team has indicated that he will focus his efforts on key swing states. Biden, having exited the race earlier this year, has made limited appearances alongside Harris since stepping down.
Among the crowd at Obama’s Pittsburgh rally was Glenda Ellison, a 71-year-old retired schoolteacher, who expressed a mix of nervousness and optimism about the election. “I’m prayerful that it’s going to turn out in our favor,” she said.
Kamala Harris Criticizes Trump
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