WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden condemned his predecessor for spreading what he termed an “onslaught of lies” regarding the federal government’s handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene while Hurricane Milton approached Florida’s coast. During a press briefing at the White House, Biden expressed dismay at the misinformation being promulgated, labeling the dissemination of falsehoods as un-American and squarely attributing the alleged deceit to former President Donald Trump.
Biden criticized the misrepresentation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response and resources by Trump and his allies, particularly highlighting comments by Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who suggested that the government possessed the capability to manipulate weather patterns. When asked about the inaccurate portrayals of the government’s actions by his Republican opponents, Biden emphasized that such falsehoods were contrary to the values of the nation.
In anticipation of the potential impact of Hurricane Milton, Biden urged residents in the storm’s path to take necessary precautions and assured them of the government’s readiness to provide assistance. The president underscored that preparations had been made, with 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water stockpiled, along with military search and rescue teams primed to aid those affected by the impending storm.
Addressing misinformation which has circulated, Biden mentioned his recent efforts to combat such narratives during a virtual briefing on federal readiness for Hurricane Milton. He criticized Greene’s assertions, branding them as “beyond ridiculous” and emphasizing the need to halt the spread of such baseless claims that he likened to something out of a comic book.
While Biden directed much of his criticism towards Trump, the former president has used public appearances, including rallies, to challenge the current administration’s handling of severe weather events. Trump has compared the government’s response to Hurricane Helene unfavorably to past disasters, invoking Hurricane Katrina in 2005, in a bid to rally support among his followers.
Contrasting the death toll figures from Hurricane Helene with those of Hurricane Katrina, Trump has deemed the current response to be the worst in history, an assertion that Biden has strongly contested. Despite the back-and-forth discourse, the focus remains on the imminent threat posed by Hurricane Milton and the ongoing efforts to safeguard communities in its path.
