President Biden said he ripped former President Trump for lying about his administration’s efforts to respond to Hurricane Helene, and said he will visit North Carolina on Wednesday to view the damage.
“I’m going to North Carolina on Wednesday. It’s planned now. We’re going to be landing in Raleigh for a meeting with the Emergency Operations Center, and I’ll then do an aerial tour,” Biden said in remarks from the Oval Office. He aded that he plans to travel to Georgia and Florida “as soon as possible” to survey damage.
The president confirmed the visit after he was briefed on the response and recovery efforts from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), as well as Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell and Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.
Separately, Biden reacted angrily to remarks from Trump, who criticized Biden’s response to the hurricane during a trip to Georgia on Monday and claimed that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) had trouble reaching Biden. Kemp and Biden confirmed the two spoke on Sunday.
“He’s lying, and the governor told him he was lying. The governor told him he’s lying. I’ve spoken to the governor, spent time with him, and he told him he’s lying. I don’t know why he does it … that’s simply not true, and it’s irresponsible,” Biden said in response to Trump.
Vice President Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, also gave an update on the hurricane relief efforts on Monday, saying she plans to be on the ground in the impacted areas “as soon as possible.”
Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, on Monday visited Valdosta, Ga., to tour storm damage and express his support for the communities reeling from the damage.
Biden has stressed that he doesn’t want to go to impacted areas too quickly and disrupt relief efforts. He also said earlier Monday that he expects to ask Congress for a supplemental bill to fund relief efforts, suggesting lawmakers may have to return from their lengthy election recess to pass it.
The hurricane caused deadly destruction in the city of Asheville and in the North Carolina mountains, where thousands are left without power and water and there has been damage to the water system.
Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing with it devastating winds and rainfall and more than 100 casualties across six states, The Associated Press reported.
This story was updated at 6:11 p.m.