Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) promoted the false claim that federal authorities are withholding aid to red counties affected by Hurricane Helene despite voting against extending funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) one day before the hurricane hit.
On Friday, Luna moderated a campaign event with Donald Trump at the Crown Center Arena in North Carolina where she told the audience that it was her opinion that federal authorities have “intentionally not helped out residents” because “it’s red communities impacted,” according to NC Newsline.
Luna was one of 82 Republicans who voted against billions of dollars in requested supplemental disaster funding for FEMA as the deadly storm was barreling towards to the United States.
Since the hurricane, Trump and his allies —several of whom also voted against funding FEMA—have promoted lies about the federal government’s response across impacted states.
Officials say the deluge of misinformation is hindering recovery efforts in areas most affected.
“This level of misinformation creates the scenario where [people affected] won’t even come to us,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. “They won’t even register, and I need people to register so they can get what they’re eligible for through our programs.”
