President Joe Biden slammed Donald Trump on Monday for falsely claiming that the federal government is not providing assistance to areas ravaged by Hurricane Helene.
During a visit to Valdosta, Georgia Trump claimed that President Biden was “sleeping” and not responding to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R), who he said was “calling the president and hasn’t been able to get him.”
Both the White House and Kemp have said President Biden spoke with the governor by phone on Sunday.
“The president just called me yesterday afternoon,” Kemp said earlier Monday. “I missed him and I called him right back. And he just said, ‘Hey, what do you need?’”
Trump also baselessly claim that President Biden and the federal government are “going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas,” despite the President quickly approving emergency declarations for states hardest hit including Florida and South Carolina.
“He is lying!” President Biden told reporters Monday in the Oval Office. “Let me get you straight. He’s lying and the governor told him he was lying. The governor told him he was lying. I’ve spoken to the governor and spent time with him. And he told me he’s lying. I don’t know why he does this.”
“It’s simply not true,” he added. “It is irresponsible.”
The White House had announced that President Biden spoke by phone on Sunday night with Kemp, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), as well as Scott Matheson, mayor of Valdosta, Georgia, and Florida Emergency Management Director John Louk.
President Biden said earlier Monday that he and Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to hurricane-damaged areas once they can be sure their presence will not disrupt emergency response efforts.
President Biden will travel to North Carolina Wednesday. He will also travel to Georgia and Florida as soon as possible, the White House said Monday evening.
