VALDOSTA, Ga. (AP) — Donald Trump repeatedly spread falsehoods Monday about the federal response to Hurricane Helene despite claiming not to be politicizing the disaster as he toured hard-hit areas in south Georgia.
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The former president and Republican nominee claimed upon landing in Valdosta that President Joe Biden was “sleeping” and not responding to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who he said was “calling the president and hasn’t been able to get him.” He repeated the claim at an event with reporters after being told Kemp said he had spoken to Biden.
White House Karine Jean-Pierre pushed back against Trump’s assertion that Biden has been unresponsive during her daily press briefing, noting that Kemp himself told reporters he spoke to Biden on Sunday and that the president asked him what Georgia needed.
The president’s homeland security adviser, Liz Sherwood-Randall, said Biden made clear that he offered Kemp “anything” Georgia needed for its response to the storm and remained available to the governor.
“So, if the governor would like to speak to the president again, of course, the president will take his call,” Sherwood-Randall said.
The White House previously announced that Biden spoke by phone on Sunday night with Kemp and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, as well as Scott Matheson, mayor of Valdosta, Georgia, and Florida Emergency Management Director John Louk. Kemp confirmed Monday morning that he spoke to Biden the night before.
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