Trump Criticizes Federal Hurricane Response, Slams Harris \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Donald Trump criticized the federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, using the storms to question the Biden administration’s effectiveness. Speaking in Detroit, Trump accused officials of failing North Carolina post-Helene, while also taking swipes at Kamala Harris and the economy. Harris, meanwhile, attended a hurricane briefing and campaigned out West to win Hispanic voters ahead of the election. Both candidates are visiting key swing states as they look to sway voters in the final weeks before Election Day.
Trump Criticizes Federal Hurricane Response, Targets Harris: Quick Looks
- Trump’s Criticism: Trump claims Biden’s administration mismanaged hurricane recovery, focusing on North Carolina’s slow relief.
- Biden’s Defense: Biden dismissed Trump’s comments as false and “un-American,” accusing him of spreading misinformation.
- Campaign Focus: Harris, focusing on Hispanic voters, continues her Western swing with rallies and outreach.
- Trump’s Detroit Speech: Trump targets blue-collar voters in Michigan, criticizing trade deals and proposing tariffs, while conflating trade deficits with national debt.
- Economic Issues: Trump pushes tariffs and economic policies, though experts warn his ideas could raise consumer costs.
Deep Look:
Donald Trump on Thursday used a speech at the Detroit Economic Club to double down on his criticism of the federal response to the devastating hurricanes that recently ravaged parts of the southeastern United States. Trump, who has been ramping up his attacks on President Joe Biden’s administration ahead of the November election, accused officials of failing to provide adequate relief, particularly in North Carolina, which was hard-hit by Hurricane Helene.
Trump expressed empathy for those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton but suggested the government’s response had been sorely lacking, saying, “They’ve let those people suffer unjustly.” He further claimed the government wasn’t doing “what you’re supposed to be doing” after the hurricanes struck, casting doubt on the administration’s handling of recovery efforts.
Trump’s remarks come as part of his broader attempt to use the hurricanes as a political advantage, capitalizing on the opportunity to criticize his opponent, Kamala Harris, and the current administration’s disaster response. Speaking at a rally, Trump shared false claims that federal aid was capped at $750, a figure that President Biden quickly debunked. Biden explained that $750 refers only to the first installment of immediate assistance, not the total amount available to victims. He urged Trump to stop spreading misinformation.
“That $750 that they’re talking about, Mr. Trump and all those other people know it’s a lie to suggest that’s all they’re going to get,” Biden said, defending his administration’s emergency efforts. “It’s just bizarre. They got to stop this. They’re being so damn un-American with the way they’re talking about this stuff.”
When asked if he would reach out to Trump directly to clarify, Biden responded with a pointed message, facing the cameras directly: “Mr. President Trump, former President Trump, get a life, man. Help these people.”
Harris’s Focus on the Western States and Hispanic Voters
While Trump campaigned in Detroit, Harris maintained a tight focus on her outreach to key Hispanic voting blocs in the West. After attending a virtual hurricane briefing in the White House Situation Room, Harris flew to Las Vegas for a Univision town hall and later headed to Phoenix for an evening rally. Her campaign is working to increase support among Hispanic men, a demographic polling suggests leans more favorably toward Trump, particularly on immigration and economic issues.
In Nevada, Harris’s campaign has focused heavily on Spanish-language outreach, including a $3 million ad buy and a series of events tied to Latino culture, including sports and holiday celebrations. Her campaign also launched a new initiative, “Hombres con Harris,” aiming to directly engage Hispanic men through small-business events, union halls, and local community centers.
Polls show a nearly even split between Trump and Harris on economic trust among Hispanic voters, but Trump holds a slight edge on immigration issues. While about 45% of Hispanic voters trust Trump more on immigration, Harris still commands strong support among Hispanic women, who are more likely to support her on both economic and immigration policies.
Trump’s Return to Core Campaign Messages in Michigan
In his Detroit speech, Trump tried to revive key themes from his 2016 campaign, focusing on blue-collar voters in the industrial heartland. He took aim at the city itself, describing Detroit as “a mess” and warning that the entire country would face the same fate if Kamala Harris were to win the presidency. “Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she’s your president,” Trump said, emphasizing economic decline under Democratic leadership.
Trump also returned to his familiar message of economic nationalism, accusing foreign countries, especially China, of taking advantage of U.S. trade deals. He criticized powerful corporations for “ripping off” the U.S. and vowed to impose steep tariffs to force other nations to negotiate better deals on American products. “They’ve been screwing us for so many years that we’re allowed to get some of that back,” Trump said, framing tariffs as a way to rebalance trade relationships.
However, economists have raised concerns about Trump’s proposals, warning that such tariffs could raise consumer prices and strain international relationships. Trump also appeared to conflate trade deficits with the federal budget deficit during his remarks, further muddying his economic message.
While Trump cited the country’s $36 trillion national debt as a problem stemming from trade deficits with China, the reality is that trade deficits represent the difference between how much a country imports and exports, while the national debt results from the federal government borrowing to cover spending shortfalls.
Trump also claimed, inaccurately, that his administration had overseen the highest job numbers, a statement that has since been surpassed by the Biden administration, which saw unemployment dip to 3.4%—lower than under Trump before the pandemic.
Harris Focuses on Building Momentum in the West
Meanwhile, Harris continued her push in the West, where her campaign has been steadily building momentum. In Arizona, she focused on winning over Hispanic voters, especially in the crucial Phoenix metropolitan area, which could play a decisive role in the upcoming election. Her campaign has been actively engaging with local Latino communities through events tied to cultural touchstones like Mexican Independence Day and sports.
Harris’s team has emphasized that the campaign’s outreach efforts are aimed at voters who may not be closely following the election. For example, her campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, attended a major boxing match in Las Vegas to connect with voters in an informal setting.
With events planned at small businesses and community centers, the “Hombres con Harris” initiative seeks to further engage Latino voters in a more personalized way, with a specific focus on winning the support of men who remain hesitant about Harris’s economic and immigration policies.
Looking Ahead: Election Momentum Builds
Both Trump and Harris are using the final weeks before the election to shore up support in swing states, with Trump focusing on working-class voters and Harris honing in on key Latino demographics. Their strategies reflect the tight race ahead, where both candidates will likely continue to rely on targeted messaging to galvanize specific voting blocs.
Adding to the election momentum, former President Barack Obama is set to campaign for Harris in Pittsburgh, making his first appearance at a rally for her. Obama’s presence is expected to help energize voters in swing states, particularly in key Senate races, as the former president looks to bolster support for Harris ahead of the final stretch of the campaign.
Trump Criticizes Federal
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