Former President Donald Trump visited victims of Hurricane Helene in Valdosta, Georgia, Monday, while Joe Biden and Kamala Harris appeared caught off-guard by the extensive damage caused by the extreme weather event.
We are now heading to Valdosta, Georgia, in order to pay my respects and bring lots of relief material, including fuel, equipment, water, and other things, to the State. Many politicians and Law Enforcement will be there. We’ll be saying hello to Franklin Graham, Burt Jones,…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2024
To every family that has been displaced here in Georgia, in North Carolina, and throughout the region, our hearts are with you in this hour of need. You are in our prayers today, and throughout all the long weeks that lay ahead. We love you—we are with you—and we will be back…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2024
The Republican presidential nominee met with community members and delivered a somber message honoring the over 100 victims who perished in the massive flooding.
FULL REMARKS: President Trump Visits Valdosta, Georgia to Deliver Relief to Victims of Hurricane Helene pic.twitter.com/yn9RIiZ1NU
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) September 30, 2024
During the press conference, Trump also said he’d be coordinating with Starlink owner Elon Musk to deliver internet to victims.
“We want to get Starlink hooked up because they have no communication whatsoever. And Elon will always come through. We know that,” Trump stated.
BREAKING: Trump just revealed that he is personally coordinating with Elon Musk to get Starlink set up for Hurricane Helene victims who have lost communication
— George (@BehizyTweets) September 30, 2024
"We want to get Starlink hooked up because they have no communication whatsoever. And Elon will always come through. We… pic.twitter.com/y22xduJiH3
PRESIDENT TRUMP: "The people on the ground are doing the best they can in every challenging circumstance. We do need some help from the federal government." pic.twitter.com/rGvRNbbxRC
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 30, 2024
In an X post, Trump indicated he’d be delivering “lots of relief material, including fuel, equipment, water, and other things, to the State.”
We are now heading to Valdosta, Georgia, in order to pay my respects and bring lots= of relief material, including fuel, equipment, water, and other things, to the State. Many politicians and Law Enforcement will be there. We’ll be saying hello to Franklin Graham, Burt Jones,…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2024
Later speaking to the press, Trump was asked whether he’d communicated with Biden about a federal response to the crisis.
“Uh, no. I haven’t reached out to him, no. I think he’s sleeping right now, actually,” Trump told a reporter.
Georgia man to President Trump: “You see that wall? The hurricane did that. That’s what Biden-Harris has done to America. That resembles it right there.” pic.twitter.com/YfkfIMZFbB
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 30, 2024
While Trump literally shook hands with hurricane survivors, the Biden-Harris team took a disastrous optics hit, with the 81-year-old puppet president, returning from yet another weekend beach getaway, early Monday telling the media the federal government had no more aid to offer the region.
"Do you have any words to the victims of the hurricane?"
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 30, 2024
BIDEN: "We've given everything that we have."
"Are there any more resources the federal government could be giving them?"
BIDEN: "No." pic.twitter.com/jDMNGhpjOz
Meanwhile, Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris seemed unprepared to deal with the crisis, abruptly canceling several campaign events on the West Coast following a rally in Vegas on Sunday after suddenly realizing there was a national crisis unfolding.
Kamala Harris was campaigning here in Las Vegas last night – but has cancelled some planned campaign stops this week so she can return to DC and meet with FEMA about the response to hurricane Helene. pic.twitter.com/TweJfYjVTL
— Bernd Debusmann Jr (@BernieDebusmann) September 30, 2024
Harris on Sunday evening released a photo aboard Air Force Two claiming she’d discussed recovery efforts with FEMA and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D). That image was picked apart as a carefully staged photo op on social media, including by former President Donald Trump, who called it “FAKE and STAGED,” noting Harris’ headphones weren’t plugged into her phone.
Another FAKE and STAGED photo from someone who has no clue what she is doing. You have to plug the cord into the phone for it to work! Biden and Harris abandoned Americans in Afghanistan. They sacrificed Americans to an Open Border, and now, they have left Americans to drown in… https://t.co/HzDpJO6XOa
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2024
Harris also briefly visited FEMA headquarters Monday, speaking for five minutes before leaving without taking any questions.
After returning from her glitzy fundraisers in San Francisco, Kamala Harris showed up to the FEMA headquarters, spent less than five minutes reading off a script about hurricane relief, and then bolted before the press could ask her questions. pic.twitter.com/jzpNRUEObq
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 30, 2024
Kamala goes Full Biden, refusing to take questions on the botched hurricane response as the press is forced out of her staged FEMA briefing pic.twitter.com/RwDs2SoKzY
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 30, 2024
A White House spokesperson claimed Biden and Harris would visit the region “as soon as it is possible without disrupting emergency response operations.”
Yet again, Trump scores yet another crucial optics win and manages to demonstrate he’s a man of the people, while the Biden-Harris administration struggle to play catch-up.
While Donald Trump personally flew to Georgia today to deliver supplies and get an update on the disaster unfolding after Hurricane Helene, Vice-President Kamala Harris made a staged photo-op phone call.
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) September 30, 2024
Who do you feel would be a better leader for the people of our country? pic.twitter.com/foBfPqITUo