The hosts of The View slammed former President Donald Trump for politicizing Hurricane Helene and its deadly path of destruction, with Whoopi Goldberg declaring “the GOP is brain dead.”
The hosts also criticized Trump’s false claim that President Joe Biden ignored calls from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp about relief resources.
“The governor’s doing a very good job,” Trump told reporters during his visit to Valdosta, Georgia on Monday. “He’s having a hard time getting the president on the phone. I guess they’re not being responsive.”
Biden addressed the comments stating, “I’ve spoken to the governor and spent time with him, and he told me [Trump’s] lying. I don’t know why he does this, but it’s simply not true. It’s irresponsible.”
The View‘s Sarah Haines said Trump engages in “fear-based politics” and disregards the suffering of those who have lost their lives, homes, and pets, leaving them to think the governor abandoned them in their most desperate times.
Left: Whoopi Goldberg speaks before the start of the 2018 Women’s March in New York, NY, on January 20, 2018. Right: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks outside the Chez What furniture store as he visits Valdosta, Ga., a town impacted by Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.
AP Photo
Trump traveled to Georgia on Monday to “pay respects” and deliver relief materials, including fuel, equipment, water, and other supplies, as he announced on X, amid the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
Goldberg slammed the former president, saying he sought a pointless photo opportunity, distracting from genuine efforts to help people.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks outside the Chez What furniture store as he visits Valdosta, Ga., a town impacted by Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.
Evan Vucci/AP Photo
Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, who has visited more natural disaster sites than most alongside former Vice President Mike Pence, agrees there was a political motive at play.
“The emergency managers on the ground will tell you that they don’t want VIP visits in the initial aftermath. Such visits take police resources and strain recovery efforts,” Griffin said. “But we know Donald Trump showed up because Georgia and North Carolina are critical battleground states.”
Georgia and North Carolina are increasingly viewed as battleground states due to their diverse electorates and shifting demographics. Both states feature a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas, attracting voters with varying political views.
Debris is seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C.
Mike Stewart/AP Photo
In the 2020 presidential election, Biden narrowly won Georgia, marking a significant shift in the state’s political landscape. Meanwhile, Trump secured North Carolina, but by a smaller margin than in previous elections, highlighting its potential for close contests in the future.
Trump Administration and FEMA
The View‘s Sunny Hostin said FEMA remained understaffed throughout the Trump administration and warned if he is elected again in 34 days, individuals in blue states are “screwed.”
“He proposed cutting the budget of the agency responsible for disaster relief, FEMA, and his top officials diverted funds away from FEMA to address immigration enforcement during natural disasters,” Hostin said. “He also withheld and delayed $20 billion in hurricane aid to Puerto Rico and threatened to withhold wildfire assistance to California.“
Volunteers stage water for people in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C.
Mike Stewart/AP Photo
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, responsible for coordinating the federal government’s response to natural and man-made disasters.
FEMA provides financial assistance to individuals, businesses, and local governments affected by disasters. The agency also offers training and resources to emergency responders and local officials, helping them develop plans and strategies to enhance community resilience
Hurricane Helene’s Wrath
Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeast, claiming the lives of more than 100 people. After making landfall as the season’s most powerful hurricane, it transformed into a tropical storm on Tuesday.
A worker moves debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Asheville, N.C.
Mike Stewart/AP Photo
Rescue teams have reported a death toll of at least 133 lives across six Southeastern states, causing damage from Florida’s Gulf Coast to the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia.
Emergency workers have reported a steady rise in the death toll as they reached areas cut off by collapsed roads, failing infrastructure, and widespread flooding.
During a briefing on Monday, White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall noted as many as 600 people had not been accounted for, suggesting some might be dead.
Biden announced he will travel to North Carolina on Wednesday to meet with officials and conduct an overhead tour of Asheville.
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