Trump Criticizes FEMA While Surveying Hurricane Damage in NC \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ While surveying the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, Donald Trump criticized federal emergency responders, accusing FEMA of mishandling relief efforts. Despite militia threats and misinformation slowing recovery, Trump claimed the disaster wouldn’t impact election results. As early voting began, both Trump’s and Kamala Harris’ campaigns intensified efforts in the battleground state.
Trump in North Carolina: Hurricane Helene and Election Impact – Quick Looks
- Trump Criticizes FEMA: Trump accused FEMA of mismanagement, repeating a false claim about its budget allocation for hurricane relief.
- Misinformation and Militia Threats: Recovery efforts slowed due to misinformation and concerns about armed groups targeting emergency workers.
- Election Focus: Despite the storm, Trump dismissed concerns that Hurricane Helene would affect election results in this key battleground state.
- Kamala Harris Campaign Efforts: Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz have also ramped up campaigning in North Carolina after the storm.
- Voter Displacement: Thousands of voters were displaced due to the storm, affecting voting sites and leading to turnout concerns from both parties.
Deep Look:
While surveying the devastation left by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, former President Donald Trump used the opportunity to criticize federal emergency responders and FEMA. Speaking from outside Asheville on Monday, Trump lashed out at the agency for what he described as an inadequate response, a claim he’s made despite obstacles faced by emergency workers. Harassment by local militia groups and the spread of misinformation have hampered FEMA’s ability to deliver aid to the hardest-hit areas. Nonetheless, Trump’s frustration appeared focused on FEMA’s response and its budget, repeating a false claim that the agency’s hurricane relief efforts were compromised because it had supposedly exhausted funds on helping illegal border crossers. This allegation, which had been debunked weeks earlier by Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., standing nearby during Trump’s comments, underscored the contentious nature of disaster response in the politically charged climate.
Trump, when asked if it was appropriate to criticize relief workers when FEMA had paused operations due to militia threats, defended his stance by saying, “Well, I think you have to let people know how they’re doing. If they were doing a great job, I think we should say that too because I think they should be rewarded… If they’re doing a poor job, we’re supposed to not say it?” His remarks brought mixed reactions, particularly in the wake of a pause in FEMA’s operations, stemming from credible threats that militia groups in the area might target emergency workers.
Despite the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, Trump downplayed any potential effect it might have on North Carolina’s election results. “No, I think in a way, it’s the opposite,” Trump said, suggesting that the storm recovery was progressing well enough not to interfere with the state’s electoral process. “I mean, we’re so impressed, and I think they have a pretty good system here,” he added. Trump’s confidence comes as his campaign and that of his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, ramp up efforts to secure votes in the critical battleground state. Both campaigns are working against the clock, with just 15 days until Election Day.
On the same day, Harris’ campaign focused on suburban regions in key states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, while Tim Walz, her running mate, made appearances in eastern North Carolina alongside former President Bill Clinton. This heightened activity underscores how critical North Carolina is to both parties, with many analysts predicting the state could determine the outcome of the election. As Republican National Chairman Michael Whatley said last week, “We are going to win or lose the presidency based on what happens in North Carolina.” With more than 1 million early votes already cast and expectations for as many as 5.5 million total ballots, every vote counts.
However, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene has complicated the voting process in North Carolina. Many counties affected by the storm have had to relocate Election Day precincts and early voting sites, leaving thousands of displaced voters scrambling to find their polling locations. Both Republicans and Democrats are racing to adapt their turnout strategies, with Republicans like Whatley stressing that the GOP is “working every channel we can.” He emphasized that their efforts include everything from phone calls and direct mail to digital outreach to ensure that voters know where to cast their ballots.
On the ground, there is visible support for Trump in rural areas. Renee Kyro, a local Republican living near Chimney Rock, one of the most severely affected towns, expressed frustration that many Trump supporters in the region had lost everything to the storm. Kyro noted that many of them were still without reliable internet or phone service, which could prevent them from knowing where to vote. “I’ll go door to door if I have to,” she said, underscoring the determination of local Republicans to ensure turnout remains high in their strongholds despite the storm.
Still, Democrats remain confident in their ability to reach voters in storm-hit regions. State Senator Natalie Murdock, who is also the political director for the Democratic coordinated campaign in North Carolina, highlighted that their field teams were actively engaged in recovery efforts, distributing supplies like water to those in need. Murdock emphasized that the Democratic ground game was built for exactly this kind of situation, and she expressed confidence that the party would succeed in turning out its voters despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Helene.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, also weighed in, urging Trump to avoid spreading misinformation during his visit. Cooper’s remarks at a briefing in Asheville highlighted the need for collaboration in the face of disaster recovery. “Storm recovery cannot be partisan,” Cooper said. “To truly help people, we must check party politics at the door and get this job done.” He emphasized that the survivors of Hurricane Helene are looking for help and honesty from their leaders, a thinly veiled rebuke to Trump’s earlier comments.
Rep. Chuck Edwards, who represents Asheville and nearby areas, had already debunked the rumors that FEMA was abandoning recovery efforts or running out of funds, but on Monday, he chose not to defend the agency publicly from Trump’s criticism. Instead, Edwards made light of the situation, recalling an earlier moment when Trump visited a McDonald’s on Sunday and learned to make French fries. Edwards even presented Trump with a “French fry certification pin” as a souvenir.
Beyond the immediate impacts of the storm, North Carolina’s competitive nature in the 2024 election has drawn even more attention due to the recent controversies surrounding Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican gubernatorial candidate. Robinson’s campaign has been embroiled in scandal following CNN’s revelations that he once referred to himself as a “Black Nazi” and made inappropriate posts on a pornography website. Though Robinson has denied the allegations and sued CNN, calling the report defamatory, Democrats hope the scandal will drive voters away from the GOP ticket and toward Democratic candidates like gubernatorial nominee Josh Stein and Vice President Harris.
Trump, when asked about Robinson, offered no strong endorsement, saying, “I’m not familiar with the state of the race right now. I haven’t seen it.” His reluctance to weigh in on the Robinson controversy suggests that the focus of his North Carolina visit was squarely on his own re-election effort and his criticism of FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene.
Meanwhile, Democrats have seized on Robinson’s struggles to energize their base. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, took aim at Robinson during his campaign appearances last week, pledging that Robinson “will never be the governor of North Carolina” and vowing to continue supporting storm recovery efforts. Democrats like Senator Murdock believe that the combination of Trump’s rhetoric and Robinson’s controversies will lead to increased support for Harris in the state.
As the campaigns enter their final stretch, both parties are intensely focused on turnout in North Carolina. Republicans are particularly concerned about rural voter participation and how it will match up against expected strong urban and suburban turnout for Harris. GOP pollster Paul Shumaker noted that before Hurricane Helene, “It was a flip of a coin,” but with the storm’s aftermath complicating voting, the question of whether Republicans can maintain strong rural turnout remains.
For some North Carolinians, Trump’s continued dominance of the Republican Party has pushed them toward the Democratic ticket. High Point attorney Robert Brown, who came out to hear Walz, shared that he had once been a Republican, working for John McCain’s campaign in 2008. However, he changed his party affiliation after Trump’s nomination in 2016. “Then after Jan. 6, I moved all the way over” to the Democratic Party, Brown explained. He noted that he now sees Vice President Harris as a center-left pragmatist with strong national security credentials, much like McCain. “This really isn’t that hard for me and for some other Republicans and former Republicans,” Brown said, reflecting the growing disillusionment of moderate Republicans with Trump’s leadership.
Trump Criticizes
