President Joe Biden on Thursday delivered a sharp rebuke of Donald Trump for spreading misinformation about the federal government’s hurricane response.
While speaking on Hurricane Milton at the White House, Biden was asked if he’s spoken to Trump directly.
“Are you kidding me?” Biden responded. “Mr. President Trump, former President Trump, get a life, man. Help these people.”
The president was then asked by a reporter if he would do anything to try to hold Trump accountable, after Biden pledged to go after those who seek to take advantage of victims through price-gouging or scamming.
“The public will hold him accountable,” Biden said. “You better — the press — hold him accountable because you know the truth.”
He added he had no plans to speak with Trump.
The White House and other administration officials are forcefully pushing back on false claims about FEMA aid for storm victims. Among the rampant rumors are that people can only receive $750, that FEMA funding is going toward migrants instead of victims and that people’s property will be seized — all of which officials stress are not true.
As a result of the misinformation, Biden said, responders on the ground aiding in recovery efforts are facing threats.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, too, said he was concerned about individuals involved in the recovery efforts being targeted online.
“We are seeing horrific hate speech of all types, propagated on online platforms. That deplorable speech has an impact on people’s lives. And it is also a motivating force for people to do harm. And it has got to stop,” Mayorkas said to ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce during Thursday’s White House press briefing.
The Southeast has been ravaged by back-to-back storms in recent weeks.
The death toll from Helene has surpassed 230, with hundreds more displaced, across several states. In Florida, there have been at least 10 confirmed fatalities as a result of Milton and millions were left without power.
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 their call, Luna still had that lie about migrants pinned to the top of her X account on Thursday and she quickly 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 create problems with the debris removal and is supportive of the 15 Billion in FEMA funds ONLY FOR Hurricane victims,” she initially posted on X, apparently in a reference to the false claim FEMA disaster funds were going to help migrants. “If Congress goes into a special session we can get it passed immediately. This needs to happen. [House] Speaker Johnson call us back,” she said.
Then came a post that the White House took issue with: “He is also agreed that $750 for hurricane victims is unacceptable. Will be in direct contact with him to resolve this. Thank you [White House].”
White House principal deputy communications director Herbie Ziskend pushed back.
“As the President said on the call: it’s unacceptable to sow misinformation and deceive hurricane victims into believing only $750 is available. That’s NOT true,” Ziskend wrote. “The $750 is *immediately* available to eligible survivors. In addition, survivors may qualify for more FEMA financial assistance, including to repair storm-related damage to homes and property, and find a temporary place to stay.”
