Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump has taken to social media, turning up the heat on the Biden-Harris administration for what he describes as a complete abandonment of the people of North Carolina. He is particularly incensed over the handling of disaster relief for those affected by Hurricane Helene, claiming that the current administration has prioritized illegal immigrants over American citizens in need.
Trump did not hold back, asserting that the Biden-Harris duo is giving away FEMA funds to non-citizens rather than addressing the disaster recovery needs of North Carolinians. He labeled their mishandling as potentially the worst rescue operation in U.S. history, which is nothing short of a bold statement coming from the former president known for his penchant for hyperbole. He further criticized the administration for sending billions of taxpayer dollars abroad while leaving American communities high and dry.
Trump blasts Kamala and Biden for their hurricane response: "It's been a terrible response from the White House. They're missing a billion dollars that was used for another purpose." pic.twitter.com/YGQ4cyRvqS
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) October 4, 2024
The controversy has heightened as Trump revealed what he sees as a shocking trend: money that should be earmarked for disaster relief is allegedly being funneled towards aiding illegal immigrants instead. Even though FEMA has responded, stating that disaster relief funding comes from a separate pool and has not been diverted, those statements do little to assuage concerns among many conservatives. The battle over narratives is clear: Trump and Republican leaders are painting a picture where American citizens are left holding the bag while illegals appear to receive priority assistance.
However, the plot thickened when Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stepped into the fray last week to issue a warning about FEMA’s financial struggles. He indicated that the agency was running low on funds and needed additional support from Congress to continue disaster recovery efforts. This statement ruffled feathers further, as it appeared to contradict FEMA’s assurances that enough disaster aid is at hand for the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson weighed in on the situation during a recent interview, emphasizing that there are distinct streams of funding for disaster relief and for migrant aid. He insisted that Congress would step up to ensure that the funds necessary to help states, like North Carolina, reach those who need them most—after all, they’ve got their work cut out for them when they reconvene after the election. Whether this reassurance will prove credible to those affected by the disaster remains to be seen, but as Republicans rally around the issue, the narrative is unlikely to shift anytime soon.
