The federal government has mounted a sprawling response following routine protocol, sending supplies, meals and more than 1,000 personnel; taking aid applications from affected residents and coordinating with state and local agencies. Search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing in remote areas. Some residents have complained about waiting for on-the-ground aid, and the aftermath will require the type of lengthy recovery that often includes issues and obstacles.
Trump has sought to blame the hurricane devastation on immigration, on Thursday falsely saying that those affected by the hurricane are getting "no help" because the federal government has instead spent its money "on people that should not be in our country."
FEMA, like other government agencies, has long struggled with funding issues and sometimes draws frustration from communities following disasters. Some residents in areas hit by Helene have complained that federal aid has not yet reached them. But those problems are unrelated to immigration, and misinformation makes it more difficult for disaster victims to understand what's going on and how to access aid, experts say.
Today I saw a blurb about Trump again making a joke about the father who was murdered in his assassination attempt.Trump Is Making Jokes About the Man Killed at His Rally
In a leaked recording, Donald Trump joked about the death of a man at one of his rallies, during a dinner with donors in August.
Then he described meeting the dead fireman Comperatore's wife, Helen, and decided to make a joke about the whole thing.
"So they're going to get millions of dollars, but the woman, the wife, this beautiful woman, I handed her the check - we handed her the check - and she said, This is so nice, and I appreciate it, but I'd much rather have my husband.' Now, I know some of the women in this room wouldn't say the same," Trump said.
The roomful of guests, who included casino owner Steve Wynn, businessman Thomas Peterffy, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Representative Byron Donalds, Representative Lauren Boebert, and former Senator Cory Gardner, broke out in laughter. Trump wasn't done, though.
"I know at least four couples," Trump said. "There are four couples, Governor [Abbott], that I know, and you're not one of them. At least four couples here would have been thrilled, actually."
Just what type of person makes light of a man killed - What this type of person absolutely should never be (again) is President of the United States.
