CNN host debunks Lara Trump’s lies about hurricane relief with clip of GOP senator praising federal response.

CNN’s Dana Bash confronted Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump about the lies promoted by Donald Trump and his allies about the federal government’s response to Hurricane Helene.

In an interview on State of the Union Sunday, Bash played a clip of GOP Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) praising the federal government’s response to the disaster and calling critics “clueless.”

“I’m actually impressed with how much attention was paid to a region that wasn’t likely to have experienced the impact that they did,” Tillis said in the video. “For anybody who thinks that any level of government, anybody here could have been prepared precisely for what we’re dealing with here clearly are clueless.”

“But right now, I’m out here to say that we’re doing a good job,” he added.

Trump defended the criticism of Helene recovery efforts as “coming directly from people.”

“I’m so glad to hear that he feels that way,” she said. “But it’s coming directly from people there. You can go online and you can look at videos of people recording themselves and posting online saying, ‘we need help, no one has come here, we have nothing, and no one has even addressed the situation in my neighborhood or my area.’”

Bash also confronted Trump on some of her father-in-law’s other outlandish claims including that hurricane victims are only getting $750 and that FEMA funds are redirected to house immigrants.

“He said that FEMA is only offering $750 to Americans who have had their homes destroyed, that’s not true,” Bash said. “He’s also echoing conspiracy theorists online who falsely claim that the administration is redirecting disaster money for undocumented immigrants. That’s also not true. Why is he spreading misinformation in a crisis like that? “

Trump dodged the question claiming instead to “hear every day from people on the ground there and they are desperate for help.”

“My question is about the misinformation, particularly the notion that they are moving money to migrants, which FEMA says flatly is not true,” Bash pressed. “And if people are not getting correct information, then they can’t go for the assistance as they have been asked for.”

“You have migrants being housed in luxury hotels in New York City,” Trump responded. “We have paid so much money from our tax dollars into the crisis. That didn’t need to happen. We could redirect money to help people immediately on the ground in north Florida.”

“That’s a separate tranche of money,” Bash replied.

FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program does provide “financial support to non-federal entities to provide humanitarian services to noncitizen migrants following their release” from detention facilities, according to the agency’s website. It has $650 million in funding this year which is separate from disaster relief funds.

“No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts,” FEMA wrote in a fact check of the claim that money is being diverting to house illegal immigrants. “Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts.”

The agency also fact-checked Republicans’ claim that victims are only receiving $750 to support their recovery.

“This is a type of assistance that you may be approved for soon after you apply, called Serious Needs Assistance,” the agency wrote. “It is an upfront, flexible payment to help cover essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies. There are other forms of assistance that you may qualify for to receive and Serious Needs Assistance is an initial payment you may receive while FEMA assesses your eligibility for additional funds.”