Morning Joe hosts blasted former President Donald Trump for “flat out lying” in his claim that the White House is “ignoring” the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which killed more than 100 people across six states over the weekend.
Trump had suggested on Monday, without evidence, that President Joe Biden was ignoring Republican officials in areas affected by the storm.
Biden sharply rebuked Trump’s false claims about the federal response after a briefing with FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell and remarked: “He’s lying, and the governor told him he was lying. I don’t know why he does this.”
Running back the clip of reporters asking Trump if Georgia Governor Brian Kemp had spoken with Biden, to which he responded no, Morning Joe host Willie Geist criticized the former president: “That’s another lie. Earlier in the day, Governor Kemp told reporters he did speak with President Biden. The president offered his assistance.”
Turning to his fellow host Jonathan Lemire, Geist continued: “This is particularly disgusting lie when people there needing help, suggesting things about Democrats, FEMA… He’s also suggested that the White House and this federal government is ignoring MAGA supporters in red counties. That’s, of course, not true. Just not even in this moment of destruction and devastation and people needing clarity and help so badly, [Trump] can’t put his ego and chief insults aside in the moment.”
Lemire was equally disgusted, adding: “Refuses to do it. Rooting against the country is one of the themes from Donald Trump. And this is a moment when this is a particularly dangerous lie. If he is out there saying: ‘Hey, the federal government is ignoring those impacted by the storm,’ that may discourage those impacted by the storm from seeking help.”
The co-host continued: “Donald Trump is only thinking about himself. You know, he, of course, was in Georgia yesterday, potentially a strain on resources there, but he wanted to go to have the political photo-op. Vice President Harris says she’ll go in the days ahead, but she wants to make sure that she is not an unnecessary distraction from recovery efforts.”
He added: “In terms of Trump, [MSNBC contributor] Charlie Sykes said this earlier this morning, it’s not like Trump is these days shading the truth or exaggerating; he’s just flat out lying. These are complete fabrications, utter falsehoods. And this one, in particular, strikes me as really dangerous.”
Watch above on MSNBC.
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