Trump, in Georgia, assaults Biden and Harris on Helene response, Biden says he is ‘mendacity’

Former President Donald Trump spoke at a furnishings retailer in Hurricane Helene-ravaged Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday the place he mentioned the day wasn’t about politics — solely to make use of the second to proceed to slam President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for what he claimed was a poor response.

“As you already know, our nation is within the ultimate weeks of a hard-fought nationwide election. However in a time like this, when a disaster hits, when our fellow residents cry out in want, none of that issues. We’re not speaking about politics now. We have now to all get collectively and get this solved. We’d like plenty of assist. They should have plenty of assist down right here,” Trump mentioned of the Georgia group hit by the hurricane.

However on the identical time Trump prompt Biden and Harris weren’t doing sufficient within the aftermath of the hurricane, which hit a number of states together with Georgia and North Carolina — two battlegrounds within the upcoming election.

“They’re being very nonresponsive,” he mentioned, claiming that they’d failed to talk to Georgia’s GOP Gov. Brian Kemp when Kemp mentioned they’d.

“Let me get this straight — he’s mendacity,” Biden shot again at a late afternoon storm briefing within the Oval Workplace when reporters requested about Trump’s declare in regards to the response. “I do not know why he does this, and the explanation I get so indignant about it — I do not care about what he says about me, I care what he communicates to the folks which can be in want. He implies that we’re not doing every little thing doable. We’re. We’re.

“So, it is merely not true. It is irresponsible,” Biden mentioned.

The Trump marketing campaign mentioned it partnered with humanitarian assist nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse to convey aid provides to Georgia. A marketing campaign official claimed it introduced one fuel tanker and two vehicles stuffed with provides to Valdosta.

Throughout his remarks, the previous president mentioned, “We have now plenty of truckloads of various objects, from oil to water to all types of apparatus that is going to assist them.”

Nevertheless, in a fastidiously curated assertion, the marketing campaign later mentioned it had “partnered” with Samaritan’s Purse, suggesting Trump did not independently convey provides, solely partnered with the nonprofit already on the scene.

“President Trump partnered with Samaritans Purse to supply truckloads of important, a lot wanted assets for the folks of Georgia together with gas and building provides,” Karoline Leavitt, a Trump marketing campaign spokesperson, mentioned.

The marketing campaign didn’t reply to a number of questions asking to make clear what it meant by “partnered.”

Earlier Monday, Biden mentioned he has directed his staff to “present each, each accessible useful resource as quick as doable” to the affected communities to assist them rescue, get well and start to rebuild.

Then on Monday afternoon, Harris spoke at Federal Emergency Administration Company headquarters in Washington, the place she’d gone to get a briefing after canceling marketing campaign occasions and flying again from Las Vegas.

“I’ve acquired common briefings on the impression of Hurricane Helene, together with from Administrator Criswell,” she advised FEMA employees. “And over the previous 24 hours, I’ve spoken with Governor Kemp of Georgia, Governor Cooper of North Carolina, and lots of native officers.”

She mentioned she would go to when she would not disrupt the response.

“I’ve shared with them that we are going to do every little thing in our energy to assist communities reply and get well, and I’ve shared with them that I plan to be on the bottom as quickly as doable. However as quickly as doable with out disrupting any emergency response operations, as a result of that should be the very best precedence, and the primary order of enterprise,” she mentioned.

Homeland Safety Adviser Liz Sherwood Randall on Monday mentioned there are presently 3,500 federal response personnel deployed and supporting response efforts throughout the area, and extra personnel is predicted to reach within the coming days.

“Search and rescue efforts by state, native, and federal companions are ongoing, and almost 600 further personnel will arrive within the area within the coming days, growing the entire variety of city search and rescue personnel to over 1,250,” she advised reporters.

FEMA and the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers are additionally getting mills able to be deployed to states that request them.

Whereas communication stays a significant problem for the impacted space, Sherwood-Randall mentioned, “FEMA will set up 30 Starlink receivers in western North Carolina to supply fast connectivity for these in best want.”

Biden, whereas returning residence from the seaside on Sunday, was adamant that his administration was doing every little thing doable to assist the affected communities.

Requested by ABC Information is there are extra assets the federal authorities may very well be giving, Biden responded, “no, we have given them.”

“We have now pre-planned a major quantity, despite the fact that they did not ask for it but — hadn’t requested for it but,” Biden mentioned Sunday.

“We’re deploying meals, water and mills, and dealing to revive state and native leaders, we are going to present no matter assist they want within the days and weeks forward,” Harris mentioned Sunday whereas rallying in Las Vegas.

On Monday, Biden mentioned known as Hurricane Helene “not only a catastrophic storm, it is historic, historical past, making storm,” and pledged to go to the impacted space as soon as he can accomplish that with out being “disruptive,” hopefully later this week.

“I additionally need you to know I am dedicated to touring to impacted areas as quickly as doable. However, I have been advised that it might be disruptive if I did it proper now, we is not going to try this on the threat of diverting or delaying any, any of the response belongings wanted to cope with this disaster,” Biden mentioned Monday. “My first accountability is to get all the assistance wanted to these impacted areas.”

Requested if Trump’s go to to Georgia Monday was inflicting a disruption, Biden replied “I haven’t got any concept.”

White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned Monday that Biden was “taking warning to keep away from utilizing important assets that’s wanted proper now, on the street, that, on the bottom that individuals want,” and added that “ought to be everybody’s high consideration proper now.”

Requested if there requests for the Trump to delay his go to, Jean-Pierre did not have interaction immediately, repeating Biden’s need to not take away from assets, however including “he believes all people ought to adhere-adhere to that.”

Hurricane Helene’s storm surge, wind injury, and inland flooding brought about deviation and casualties in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, flooding neighborhoods, stranding residents, demolishing properties and toppling bushes. The storm has killed not less than 107 folks and left dozens lacking.

ABC Information’ Molly Nagle, Cheyenne Haslett, Fritz Farrow, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Will McDuffie and Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report.