Donald Trump
So it became a deadly hurricane election propaganda
Wolfgang Hansson
This is a commenting text. Analysis and positions are the writer's.
Updated 20.01 | Published 19.46
Quick version
- Donald Trump is spreading false accusations against the Biden administration regarding the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, even though evidence from both federal and state sources has refuted his claims.
- Officials, including Georgia's governor and FEMA, have confirmed that President Biden has helped affected states and that large sums have been paid out for post-hurricane reconstruction.
- Unsubstantiated claims are still circulating on social media and could
influence the upcoming election in states like Georgia and North
Carolina, where small shifts in voter support can be decisive.
As the United States holds its breath for another severe storm, Hurricane Helene has turned into a political bat.
Donald Trump has made a number of false accusations against the Biden administration's handling of the disaster that claimed over 200 lives.
It could swing the election in two crucial states.
Helene hit full force against Georgia and North Carolina a week ago.
Whole communities were more or less wiped out by rushing waters and strong winds. It took several days before the extent of the disaster became clear.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was quickly on the ground in Georgia and made a series of accusations against Biden/Harris.
- The governor of Georgia has tried to call Biden but the president had not bothered to answer.
- Kamala Harris had taken money from the disaster agency FEMA and given it to illegal immigrants.
- Trump railed that all the victims of the hurricane get from the state is 8,000 kroner, while the US "sends billions to countries no one has heard of".
- No helicopters were on hand to help with the rescue effort while Harris sat down to a nice dinner in San Francisco.
When the American media tried to get Trump's claims confirmed, they turned out to be false. In many cases pure lies.
Brian Kemp, Republican governor of Georgia, said even before Trump dropped his claim that Biden ignored him, that he had spoken with President Biden. The President had called him but Kemp had missed the call. Then he himself had called Biden, who answered immediately.
Offered help
Biden offered Kemp and the state all the help they needed in the rescue and rebuilding efforts.
FEMA adamantly denies that any of its disaster funds were funneled to illegal immigrants instead of hurricane victims.
To date, FEMA has paid out over two billion kroner to the victims of the hurricane. The SEK 8,000 all affected people receive is only an initial payment to help them in an emergency situation. In addition, there are large sums for those whose houses or other property were destroyed.
Already when Trump made his statement on October 5 that no helicopters were on site, the North Carolina National Guard on platform X had announced that it had carried out 146 flights with, among other things, helicopters and rescued 538 people and 150 pets.
Donald Trump and Republican Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia. Photo: AP
Conspiracy theories
It is thought that Trump should lose by spreading false claims and false accusations in a disaster situation. That it will backfire on him.
But it is not at all certain that this will be the case. Social media has been full of exactly the rumors and claims that Trump has come up with. Plus additional conspiracy theories like Biden deliberately not sending aid to Republican areas.
It's like Trump's claim in the election debate against Harris a month ago when he claimed that Haitian migrants in the Ohio city of Springfield are killing and eating local residents' pets. Cats and dogs.
Despite the fact that the Republican mayor of Springfield immediately denied these claims and that the hosts of the real-time debate pointed out that Trump was making false statements, these lies continue to spread.
Not least by Trump and his vice presidential candidate JD Vance.
Explosive power
The same thing is about to happen with the lies about the relief efforts after Hurricane Helene.
Kamala Harris has realized the explosive power of the false information. She accuses Trump of being "extremely irresponsible" because it could result in victims not applying for the help they are entitled to.
In a new TV commercial, she attacks her rival.
In the 2020 election, Joe Biden won the state of Georgia by a margin of less than 12,000 votes. In North Carolina, Trump won by 75,000 votes.
Opinion polls in both states show that it is at least equal in this year's election. Maybe even more evenly. Even very small shifts in the electorate can decide the election one way or the other.
Are voters listening to Trump or to the correct data?
It is far from the first time that natural disasters have been used for political propaganda.
Criticism against George W Bush was very harsh after the federal authorities' meek response to Hurricane Katrina that drowned New Orleans in 2005. But Bush had already been re-elected in the 2004 election, so it had no other consequences than tarnishing his reputation.
Trump drew criticism for his handling of Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico in 2017. The president traveled there and threw toilet packs to a crowd waiting for disaster relief that never showed up.
"A Scam"
Donald Trump has tried to play down the importance of climate change. Before the last election, he called it "a scam".
This year, the US is expected to be hit extra hard by hurricanes due to global warming. The next one is already on its way in the Gulf of Mexico. Milton has been upgraded to Category 5 and is headed for Florida where severe effects are expected.
It is always the sitting president who ultimately bears the responsibility for the rescue work. If Biden/Harris fails, it could decide the election.
The risk is less that Trump will lose on his false claims.
Opinion
polls in both states show that it is at least equal in this year's
election. Maybe even more evenly. Even very small shifts in the
electorate can decide the election one way or the other.
Are voters listening to Trump or to the correct data?
It is far from the first time that natural disasters have been used for political propaganda.
Criticism
against George W Bush was very harsh after the federal authorities'
meek response to Hurricane Katrina that drowned New Orleans in 2005. But
Bush had already been re-elected in the 2004 election, so it had no
other consequences than tarnishing his reputation.
Trump drew
criticism for his handling of Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico in
2017. The president traveled there and threw toilet packs to a crowd
waiting for disaster relief that never showed up.
Hurricane Milton headed for the US.
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