Hurricane Milton Fuels Political Tensions in US Election Landscape

Dubai | October 12, 2024 | 1 | Current Events , news

As Hurricane Milton made landfall, it not only wreaked havoc in Florida but also stirred significant political controversy in the U.S. President Joe Biden responded sharply to Donald Trump’s criticisms of the Biden administration’s handling of the recent hurricanes, including Milton and Hurricane Helene. During a briefing on hurricane recovery efforts, Biden urged Trump to “get a life” and focus on helping those affected by the storms rather than spreading misinformation.

Both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have engaged in a vigorous defense of their administration’s actions, accusing Trump and the Republican Party of jeopardizing the safety of hurricane survivors. When asked whether he had reached out to Trump about his misleading statements, Biden replied incredulously, “Are you kidding me?” He then addressed the camera directly, stating, “Mr. President Trump, former President Trump — get a life, man, and help these people.”

Biden’s remarks come as he has stepped back from the 2024 race, passing the campaign torch to Harris. Nonetheless, he recognizes the importance of effective disaster response in shaping the election outcomes.

Rebutting Misinformation

Harris joined the fray, criticizing Trump for his comments about wind turbines during a campaign speech. She emphasized that she had met with federal teams tirelessly working to provide aid to those impacted by Helene and Milton, while accusing Trump of spreading falsehoods.

The hurricanes have deepened political divides in the U.S. just weeks before a highly contested election. Trump addressed Florida residents in a video, suggesting they would receive better support under his leadership come January 20, 2025.

Trump has been vocal in his criticism of Biden and Harris, claiming they were absent from Washington during Hurricane Helene’s impact and falsely alleging that the White House failed to communicate with state governors. In response, Biden labeled Trump’s claims as an “onslaught of lies,” specifically refuting statements regarding FEMA funds and compensation for storm victims.

Heightened Tensions

Amid the ongoing recovery efforts, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas reported that emergency responders have faced online threats, citing a disturbing rise in hateful speech directed at them.

The situation escalated further with Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican and former presidential candidate, dismissing Harris’s attempts to engage with him amid the crisis. He stated, “What she’s doing is trying to inject herself into this because of her political campaign. I don’t have time for those games.”

Despite the political tension, Biden acknowledged DeSantis’s graciousness in their recent conversation, but he did not hold back in criticizing the rampant misinformation surrounding the hurricanes, particularly conspiracy theories propagated by pro-Trump figures like Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. He labeled these theories as “so stupid” and urged that they must come to an end.