U.S. President Joe Biden has strongly condemned the spread of misinformation regarding Hurricanes Milton and Helene, accusing former President Donald Trump of leading a campaign of false claims that undermines the government’s response efforts. Speaking from the White House as Hurricane Milton approached Florida, Joe Biden labeled the spread of disinformation as “un-American” and warned that it could put lives at risk.
Joe Biden expressed concern over the “reckless, irresponsible, and relentless” promotion of false information about the government’s rescue and recovery operations. He specifically called out Donald Trump for making unfounded claims, including allegations that federal disaster relief funds had been redirected to address the issue of migrants. The president was firm in his criticism, stating, “Quite frankly, these lies are un-American. Former President Donald Trump has led this onslaught of lies.”
The president’s remarks came as Hurricane Milton, described by the National Hurricane Center as “extremely dangerous” and “life-threatening,” prepared to make landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, with wind speeds of up to 193 km/h (120 mph). The storm follows closely on the heels of Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of Florida and other southern states, claiming at least 230 lives.
When questioned by reporters about Donald Trump’s motives for spreading misinformation, Joe Biden said he was uncertain. “I simply don’t know. You can speculate, but I just find it un-American. It’s not who the hell we are,” he said, repeating the phrase “un-American” to emphasize his point.
In addition to Donald Trump, Joe Biden also took aim at Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a staunch Donald Trump ally, for promoting baseless conspiracy theories. Greene has suggested that the federal government is controlling the weather, a claim Joe Biden dismissed as “beyond ridiculous” and called for an end to such narratives.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Democratic nominee for the upcoming presidential election in November, echoed Joe Biden’s sentiments. In an interview with CNN, Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump’s actions, calling them “unconscionable” and warning that playing politics in the face of such crises is dangerous. She urged for an end to political gamesmanship in moments of national emergency.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump reiterated his criticism of the Joe Biden administration’s handling of the hurricanes during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. “This administration has not done a proper job at all. Terrible, terrible,” he said, though he also expressed hopes that those affected by the storms would stay safe.
As Hurricane Milton batters Florida, the Joe Biden administration continues to face challenges in addressing both the physical impacts of the storm and the ongoing battle against misinformation.
