The President Joe Biden on Thursday he issued a sharp rebuke Donald Trump For spreading misinformation about the federal government’s hurricane response.
While speaking about Hurricane Milton at the White House, Biden was asked if he had spoken directly with Trump.
– Are you kidding me? Biden responded. “Mr. President Trump, former President Trump, get a life, man. Help these people.”
As a result of this misinformation, Biden said, first responders helping victims on the ground are being threatened.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also said he was concerned about the people involved in cyber-led recovery efforts.
“We’re seeing a lot of hate speech of all kinds, spread across online platforms. This unfortunate speech affects people’s lives. And it’s also a motivating force for people to do harm. And it has to stop,” Mayorkas said. ABC News White House Correspondent Mary Bruce during Thursday’s White House press conference.
President Joe Biden speaks about the impact of Hurricane Milton at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC on October 10, 2024.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
The White House and other administration officials are forcefully pushing back on false claims about FEMA aid to storm victims. Among the widespread rumors are that people can only receive $750, that FEMA funding goes to migrant victims and that people’s property will be seized, officials insist, all of which are not true.
Biden was asked by a reporter if he would do anything to try to hold Trump accountable after Biden pledged on Thursday to take advantage of victims through price gouging or fraud.
“The public will hold him accountable,” said Biden. “You – the press – better be held accountable, because you know the truth.”
He added that he had no intention of talking to Trump.
The Southeast has been ravaged by storms in recent weeks.
The death toll from Helena has exceeded 230, and hundreds more have been displaced in several states. In Florida, there have been at least 10 deaths due to Milton and millions were left without power.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds a press conference at the White House in Washington on October 10, 2024. Jean-Pierre was accompanied by Alejandro Mayorkas, the US Secretary of Homeland Security.
Annabelle Gordon/Reuters
President Biden spent Thursday morning calling local officials and lawmakers, including Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott and Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.
Luna, who represents Florida’s 13th Congressional District, has been an avid spreader of misinformation, including false claims about migrants receiving FEMA funds that should have gone to hurricane victims.
Despite the call, Luna still had that lie about migrants pinned to the top of the X account on Thursday and spread another falsehood that prompted a swift response from the White House.
“Just got off the phone with (President) Biden. He is personally overseeing that FEMA does not have a problem with debris removal and is in favor of FEMA’s 15 billion funds ONLY for hurricane victims,” X apparently initially posted. A reference to the false claim that FEMA disaster funds would help migrants. “If Congress goes into a special session we can pass it right away. This has to happen. (House) Speaker Johnson called us back,” he said.
Then came a message that the White House disputed: “He also agrees that $750 for hurricane victims is unacceptable. Will be in direct contact with him to resolve this. Thank you (White House).”
White House deputy communications director Herbie Ziskend pushed back.
“As the President said on the call: it is unacceptable to spread misinformation and mislead hurricane victims into believing that only $750 is available. That is NOT true,” Ziskend wrote. “$750 is *immediately* available to survivors. In addition, survivors may receive additional financial assistance from FEMA, including for repairing storm damage to homes and property and finding temporary housing.”
