Homeland Security Chief Warns ‘Hate Speech’ Is Hurting Hurricane Relief, Risking Violence

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned that “hate speech” against first responders who are helping victims of hurricanes Helene and Milton is harming the nation’s recovery efforts and risking potential violence, echoing similar warnings by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and President Joe Biden.

“We’re seeing horrific hate speech of all types propagated on online platforms,” he said Thursday at a news conference. “That deplorable speech has an impact on people’s lives, and it is also a motivating force for people to do harm. And it has got to stop.”

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has said that the type and amount of disinformation spreading are worse than she has ever seen and that her staff has become demoralized and even fearful while trying to help people on the ground.

FEMA launched a website specifically directed at addressing some of the misinformation and falsehoods about storm relief efforts.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned Thursday that hate speech online against first responders is "a motivating force for people to do harm."

In an update Wednesday, Criswell said that the volume of misinformation “is starting to go down.”

“But we need to continue to now remain focused on what our mission is: Our mission is to help people,” she said. “We are not going to let the misinformation be a distraction to the important work we need to do.”

Some of the misinformation includes false claims that the Biden administration is taking money from FEMA and using it to help immigrants vote illegally in the November elections. Former President Donald Trump has also falsely alleged that storm survivors are being given only $750 in federal compensation. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has also alleged that the government is able to control the weather and use it to attack Republican-leaning states.

Biden directly slammed Trump’s efforts to spread false information at a news conference Thursday.

“Former President Trump: Get a life, man. Help these people,” he said.