Trump, Biden, and Harris Spar Over Storm Response

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused major damage across the Southeast, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump criticized President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, triggering retorts from both.

Key Quotes:

• “She’s on a fundraising comedy tour while people are stranded and drowning all over some of our greatest states," said Trump on Wednesday, apparently referring to Harris' recent media appearances on Late Night with Stephen Colbert, the Howard Stern Show, and the Call Her Daddy podcast.
• "That $750 that they're talking about, Mr. Trump and all those other people know it's a lie to suggest that's all they're going to get," Biden said on Thursday. "They're being so damn un-American with the way they're talking about this stuff."
• "In this crisis — like in so many issues that affect the people of our country — I think it so important that leadership recognizes... dignity," said Harris on Thursday. "I have to stress that this is not a time for people to play politics."

How the Media Covered It: New York Post (Lean Right bias) quoted Trump extensively and pointed out that Harris' "first interview with a major news outlet came more than a month after Biden ended his re-election bid." Associated Press (Lean Left) noted that Trump had "for several days promoted falsehoods about the federal response" and Harris "virtually attended" Biden's briefing on Helene. Newsweek (Center) said a Miami Herald (Lean Left) op-ed "slammed" Trump for politicizing the Helene response — omitting that the author also criticizes both Trump and Biden for cutting FEMA funding.