Vice President Kamala Harris went after Donald Trump for his false claims about FEMA in the wake of devastating storms in the Southeast during an appearance on ABC’s “The View” on Tuesday.
“It’s profound and it is the height of irresponsibility and, frankly, callousness,” Harris said of Trump’s claims. “Lives are literally at stake right now.”
Harris described personal stories she heard from those affected by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath after traveling to Georgia and North Carolina.
“People are losing their home with no hope of ever being able to reconstruct or return, and the idea that somebody would be playing political games for the sake of himself — but this is so consistent about Donald Trump,” she said. “He puts himself before the needs of others. I fear that he really lacks empathy on a very basic level to care about suffering of other people and understand the role of a leader is not to beat people down, it’s to lift people up.”
Harris’ sit-down on “The View” marked her first live interview since becoming the Democratic nominee. She is ramping up her media appearances this week with now just one month until Election Day.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris appears on “The View,” Oct. 8, 2024.
ABC
Harris was also asked about a comment from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accusing Harris of only getting involved in storm response out of political motivation.
“She has no role in this,” DeSantis said on Monday. “In fact, she’s been vice president for three-and-a-half years. I’ve dealt with a number of storms under this administration. She has never contributed anything to any of these efforts, and so what I think is selfish is trying to blunder into this.”
ABC News reported DeSantis declined to take a call with Harris in the last several days, though DeSantis later said he was unaware of the attempted outreach.
“I have called and talked within the course of this crisis, this most recent crisis, Democrat and Republican governors — called, taken the call, answered the call, had a conversation,” Harris said. “So, obviously this is not an issue that is about partisanship or politics for certain leaders but maybe is for others.”
Harris then turned to Hurricane Milton and urged any Floridians tuning in to the show to heed to calls to evacuate. The storm is expected to make landfall on Wednesday evening as possibly a Category 4 hurricane.
“This one is going to be different, and that’s why I called the governor about what Florida has received in terms of impact,” she said.
President Biden, after being briefed on Hurricane Milton on Tuesday, was asked if Harris had been helpful in preparing for the storm. Biden nodded his head and said “yes.”
President Joe Biden gives remarks alongside Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm during a briefing on the ongoing hurricane season in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on October 08, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Biden also criticized those spreading misinformation about FEMA in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, calling it “un-American.”
“It puts people in certain things where they panic. Where they really, really, really worry,” Biden said. “They think we’re not being taken care of. And it really is — that’s going to sound, I’m gonna use an old phrase, it’s un-American. It really is. People are scared to death.”
Biden said he was able to speak with all the governors of states that will be affected by Hurricane Milton, including a call with DeSantis last night. Biden said DeSantis has been “cooperative” and that the Florida governor said he’s received everything he needs.
“I made clear they should reach out, including to me directly, with everything else they may need as they see this storm hit,” Biden said. “I gave them my personal number to contact me here in the White House.”
ABC News’ Molly Nagle contributed to this report.
In the wake of recent natural disasters, Vice President Kamala Harris has taken a stand against President Donald Trump’s inaccurate statements regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) response to storm-affected areas. Harris has criticized Trump for downplaying the severity of the storms and failing to provide adequate support to those in need.
One of the most recent examples of Trump’s inaccurate statements came in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017. Despite overwhelming evidence of the destruction caused by the storm, Trump claimed that the response to Puerto Rico was a “success” and praised FEMA for their efforts. However, Harris has been quick to point out that thousands of people in Puerto Rico were left without power, clean water, and access to medical care for weeks after the storm hit.
Harris has also challenged Trump’s response to other natural disasters, such as Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Hurricane Irma in Florida. In both cases, Trump claimed that FEMA’s response was “fantastic” and that the affected areas were quickly getting back on their feet. However, Harris has highlighted the fact that many residents in these areas are still struggling to rebuild their lives and that FEMA’s resources have been stretched thin.
In addition to criticizing Trump’s inaccurate statements, Harris has called for increased funding for FEMA and other disaster relief agencies. She believes that the federal government should be doing more to help those affected by natural disasters and that resources should be allocated more efficiently to ensure a swift and effective response.
Harris’s challenges to Trump’s statements on FEMA’s storm response have sparked a national conversation about the importance of accurate and timely information during times of crisis. By holding the president accountable for his words and actions, Harris is working to ensure that those in need receive the support and assistance they deserve.
In conclusion, Vice President Kamala Harris’s challenges to President Donald Trump’s inaccurate statements on FEMA’s storm response highlight the need for transparency and accountability in times of crisis. By speaking out against misinformation and advocating for increased support for disaster relief efforts, Harris is working to ensure that those affected by natural disasters receive the help they need to rebuild and recover.
