On Sept. 30, 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden stated the federal authorities wouldn’t be sending extra help to assist victims of Hurricane Helene.
A reporter requested Biden, “Are there any extra sources the federal authorities could possibly be giving [victims]?” He responded “no” and that the federal authorities had already put aside help for states hit by the hurricane, “although they [hadn’t asked] for it but.” In different phrases, he didn’t say the federal government wouldn’t be sending extra help sooner or later. Moderately, in full context, his assertion claimed his administration had already given “every part we’ve got.”
As Hurricane Helene left widespread destruction throughout the U.S. Southeast, killing greater than 150 individuals, a purported quote by U.S. President Joe Biden went viral amongst his critics. They claimed he stated the federal authorities wouldn’t be sending extra help to assist victims of the storm.
Posts with the alleged quote included actual video footage of Biden talking to reporters. One submit captioned the clip, “The Biden-Harris won’t be giving any extra federal help to the victims of Hurricane Helene. These sources are supposed for Zelensky [sic], I assume,” in reference to U.S. help for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
(X person @stillgray)
The accusation missed context supplied by Biden’s full quote — data that makes the declare an misguided interpretation of what he truly stated.
Within the video, Biden didn’t say his administration wouldn’t be giving extra help to victims of the hurricane. Moderately, in full context, he claimed there aren’t extra sources that the federal authorities may ship to states affected by the storm as a result of it had allegedly already given “every part we’ve got.”
A reporter requested Biden, “Are there any extra sources the federal authorities could possibly be giving [victims]?” He responded “no” and instantly adopted that reply with a declare that the federal authorities had supposedly already put aside “a big quantity” of sources for victims, “although they [hadn’t asked] for it but.”
The alternate happened on Sept. 30, 2024, and is available on the White Home’s web site as an official transcript (emphasis ours):
Q: Do you’ve gotten any phrases for the victims of the hurricane?
THE PRESIDENT: Sure, it is tragic. As a matter of reality, they’re attempting to get the precise quantity. My FEMA adviser is on the bottom in Florida proper now. There is a distinction between the numbers that FEMA has used and those utilized by — by the locals.
So, it is — it truly is superb. You noticed the images. It is gorgeous.
Q: So many —
THE PRESIDENT: However — nevertheless it actually is.
Q: So many — so — such a large space.
THE PRESIDENT: And we — we gave — are giving all of them the — all — every part we’ve got. Had been on the bottom forward of time. So, we’re working exhausting.
Q: Are there any extra sources the federal authorities could possibly be giving them?
THE PRESIDENT: No. We have given them — we’ve got preplanned a big quantity of it, although they did not ask for it but — had — hadn’t requested for it but.
Hours after that dialog, Biden stated in a statement on social media: “I’ve directed my crew to supply each accessible useful resource as quick as potential to your communities. To rescue, get well and to start rebuilding.”
Hypothetically talking, if the declare have been true — if Biden had stated on Sept. 30 that the federal authorities wouldn’t be sending extra assist to hurricane victims — he didn’t maintain his promise. On Oct. 2, the president announced 1,000 active-duty troops can be deployed to help with storm-recovery efforts, in addition to different sources to supposedly assist the states. Per a White Home fact sheet:
Greater than 4,800 personnel from throughout the Federal workforce are deployed and supporting state-led response efforts throughout the area. FEMA and different companies have greater than 1,200 personnel in North Carolina, with extra sources and workers arriving every day.
Search and rescue efforts by state, native, and Federal companions are ongoing, and almost 600 extra personnel are arriving within the area within the coming days, growing the overall variety of City Search and Rescue personnel to over 1,250.
Additionally, Biden said he plans to ask Congress to go laws that will put aside extra funds for Hurricane Helene aid efforts.
