President Biden on Wednesday blasted former President Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for spreading what he called “irresponsible” and “beyond ridiculous” falsehoods around severe weather bearing down on Florida and other states.
Biden delivered remarks as he and Vice President Harris received a briefing on the latest movement from Hurricane Milton, an intense storm likely to make landfall in Florida later Wednesday. The president said his administration has been in touch with state and local officials and has made an “unprecedented number of assets” available to help with the response to both Milton and Hurricane Helene.
“But now I want to be clear about something. Over the last few weeks, there’s been a reckless, irresponsible and relentless promotion of disinformation and outright lies that are disturbing people,” Biden said. “It’s undermining confidence in the incredible rescue and recovery work that has already been taken and will continue to be taken. It’s harmful to those who need help the most. There is simply no place for this to happen.”
Biden specifically called out Trump for leading “the onslaught of lies.” He said claims that property is being confiscated and that those impacted by the storm are only receiving $750 in assistance are not true. And he said claims the government is diverting disaster response funds to aid migrants, which Trump has amplified repeatedly, are not true.
“Now the claims are getting even more bizarre. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a congresswoman from Georgia, is now saying the federal government is literally controlling the weather. We’re controlling the weather,” Biden said. “It’s beyond ridiculous. It’s got to stop. Moments like this, there are no red or blue states.”
Last week, as a number of Southern states were dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Greene wrote on the social platform X that “yes they can control the weather.”
The White House, as well as officials in impacted states, have for days been trying to push back on misinformation surrounding the hurricane response. The Biden administration launched a fact sheet and a Reddit page intended to share the facts about the response.
Rep. Chuck Edwards (N.C.), a Republican who represents a district hit by Hurricane Helene, posted a press release Tuesday debunking eight “myths” about the storm response, including multiple claims shared by Trump.