President Joe Biden blasted former President Donald Trump and Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene for spreading “lies” about hurricane relief.
It comes as people pick up the pieces of their lives after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in the Southeast, with Hurricane Milton now barreling towards Florida.
‘I want to be clear about something. “Over the past few weeks, there has been a reckless, irresponsible and relentless promotion of disinformation and outright lies that alarm people,” Biden said, speaking directly to the camera during the briefing on Wednesday.
The president said they are “undermining confidence in the incredible rescue and recovery work that has already been undertaken” and will be carried out. He called the disinformation harmful to those who need help most.
“Former President Trump led the onslaught of lies,” Biden criticized the Republican presidential candidate.
President Biden named former President Trump and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene for spreading lies during a hurricane briefing last Wednesday. He called some of the claims they make publicly “simply untrue,” “ridiculous” and “harmful” to those who need help most.
The president rattled off a number of claims that he said are “simply not true,” including that property is being confiscated, storm victims will receive $750 for their recovery and no more, and money will be diverted to migrants.
‘How ridiculous. It’s not true,” Biden continued.
Trump has made false statements about the Biden administration’s response to his massive social media following, in interviews and during his campaign rallies. He has claimed there is no money for repairs because illegal immigrants will be housed here.
President Biden has walked back a series of false claims former President Trump made about hurricane recovery efforts during campaigns, in interviews and in online posts
The ex-president has also lied about Democratic officials favoring Democrats while ignoring Republican areas, claiming state officials have failed to connect with the president.
Biden also took his name from Greene, a close Trump ally, when he said the claims are getting “even more bizarre.”
“Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene – the congresswoman from Georgia – now says the federal government literally controls the weather. Do we have it under control again? It’s beyond ridiculous. It has to stop,” Biden said.
The president argued “at times like these, there are no red states or blue states.”
Biden blasted Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for her “outlandish” claim that they can control the weather after posting about it on X. He called it “extremely ridiculous.”
Other Republicans have called out Greene for posting the false weather claim online.
In one press release On Tuesday, GOP Congressman Chuck Edwards of North Carolina, the state hit hard by Hurricane Helene, tried to debunk some of the false information circulating.
His statement even included the phrase “No one can control the weather.”
Edwards also disputed false claims that FEMA was seizing supplies or running out of money.
“There is one United States of America where neighbors help neighbors,” Biden said on Tuesday. He praised volunteers and first responders for “risking everything, including their own lives, to help their fellow Americans.”
FEMA has a web page to combat false information. People are encouraged to listen to their local officials for accurate information.