In true Biden fashion, when disaster strikes, he tends to make things worse.
The President, fresh from yet another beach vacation, faced questions about the federal response to Hurricane Helene, which ravaged parts of the southeastern United States, with western North Carolina bearing the brunt of the destruction. For some, it’s being called their own version of Hurricane Katrina.
During an exchange on Sunday, Biden was asked, “Do you have any words for the victims of the hurricane?”
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His response? “We’ve given everything that we have.”
A follow-up question from the same reporter asked if the federal government had more resources to provide.
“No,” Biden bluntly replied, showing little empathy for those still reeling from the storm’s devastation. One would expect a more reassuring response from a sitting president. Instead, it came off as cold and indifferent.
As reported by Red State, it is now Monday, and Biden has returned to Washington after lounging at Rehoboth Beach. He addressed the nation this morning, speaking about the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
He made vague promises that the federal government would stay involved “as long as it takes to finish this job.” A curious statement, given that many of the hardest-hit areas are still waiting for any substantial aid to arrive.
In his speech, Biden also pledged to visit the disaster zones, but only when his presence wouldn’t be a “disruption” to ongoing efforts. Afterward, as Biden left the room, a determined reporter asked why neither he nor Vice President Kamala Harris were in Washington over the weekend managing the response.
Biden’s reply was a complete trainwreck. Here’s how the exchange went down:
Reporter: “On the hurricane, why weren’t you and Vice President Harris here in Washington commanding this this weekend?”
Biden (defensively): “I was commanding. I was on the phone for at least two hours yesterday, and the day before as well. I command, it’s called a telephone, and all my security people.”
REPORTER: “On the hurricane, why weren’t you and VP Harris here in Washington commanding this this weekend?”
BIDEN: “I was commanding! I was on the phone…” pic.twitter.com/ak07MAcGiL
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 30, 2024
Imagine how that response sounds to someone who just lost their home. Essentially, he’s saying, “While you suffered, I was relaxing at the beach, making some phone calls.” That’s not the leadership Americans expect in times of crisis.
As for Vice President Harris, she’s been nowhere to be found, aside from a staged photo op of her supposedly being briefed by FEMA. The picture raised eyebrows, though, since the headset in the photo didn’t appear to be plugged in, and the paper she was writing on looked suspiciously blank.
I was just briefed by @FEMA_Deanne Criswell on the latest developments about the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene. We also discussed our Administration’s continued actions to support emergency response and recovery.
I also spoke with @NC_Governor Cooper about the ongoing… pic.twitter.com/nlZPB0h3mO— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 30, 2024
While Biden was soaking up the sun at the beach, former President Donald Trump was on the ground in the disaster-ravaged areas.
Trump didn’t hesitate to connect with local officials and victims, offering encouragement and pledging to raise awareness about their struggles. His visit was a stark contrast to Biden’s distant, hands-off approach.
BREAKING: Trump asked if he has reached out to Biden about federal relief efforts:
“No I haven’t reached out to him. I think he’s sleeping right now, actually.” pic.twitter.com/NfGO7Px0ku
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) September 30, 2024
Walking through the devastation, Trump showed the kind of direct leadership people expect during a crisis—something Biden and Harris seem either unable or unwilling to provide.
They claim help is on the way, but with responses like these, hope feels misplaced. The real help might come in November, when voters finally have the opportunity to give Harris and Biden their walking papers. Maybe then, America can start getting back on course.
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