Donald Trump Goes Off the Rails With Claim That Some Races Have Murder Gene
Emell Derra Adolphus – October 7, 2024
Win McNamee
Donald Trump revealed an unhinged eugenics theory Monday, claiming during a morning rant that some migrants have “bad genes” that make them predisposed to committing murder.
Trump spent a good chunk of an interview on the The Hugh Hewitt radio show slamming the policies of his political opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, and baselessly accused her of wanting to install a communist government.
“She wants to [do] government housing. She wants to go into government feeding. She wants to feed people. She wants to feed people governmentally,” he said as host Hugh Hewitt listened without saying a word. “She wants to go into a community party-type system. When you look at the things that she proposes, they’re so far off. She has no clue.”
Trump then attacked Harris’ handling of illegal immigration—despite her pushing back against his claims of a “crisis”—and alleged that she was letting people into the country with “bad genes.”
“How about allowing people to come to an open border, 13,000 of which were murders, many of them murdered far more than one person, and they are not happily living in the United States,” he said. “And now a murderer, I believe this, it’s in their genes.”
He added, “We got a lot of bad genes in our country right now.”
Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump has shown a fascination with genes—using the topic often during discussions of immigration to suggest some people are more superior than others.
During a 2020 campaign speech in Minnesota, Trump told a majority white crowd of his supporters that they have “good genes” and seemed to suggest that immigration and racism challenges in America comes down to genetic differences, reported the New York Times.
“A lot of it is about the genes, isn’t it, don’t you believe?” said Trump. “The racehorse theory, you think we’re so different? You have good genes in Minnesota.”
Donald Trump says there are ‘a lot of bad genes’ among migrants in the US
Gram Slattery and Kristina Cooke – October 7, 2024
FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. president Donald Trump holds a rally in Juneau
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways
By Gram Slattery and Kristina Cooke
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Monday there are “a lot of bad genes” in the United States, while discussing murders allegedly committed by immigrants living illegally in the United States.
“How about allowing people to come to an open border, 13,000 of which were murderers,” Trump said in an interview with conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt, while discussing the immigration policies of his Democratic opponent in the Nov. 5 election, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Many of them murdered far more than one person, and they’re now happily living in the United States. You know, now a murderer, I believe this, it’s in their genes. And we got a lot of bad genes in our country right now.”
The former president has frequently attacked migrants on the campaign trail, particularly those who have been implicated in crimes. At times, he has used dehumanizing language, and he has increasingly turned to extremely graphic depictions of the crimes even though a range of studies show immigrants do not commit crime at a higher rate than native-born Americans.
Trump appeared to be referring to a letter from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to Republican Representative Tony Gonzales, released last month, which showed that 13,099 people have been convicted of homicide who are on ICE’s “non-detained docket.” That docket includes various types of immigrants who entered the country legally and illegally.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security called those statistics misleading.
“The data in this letter is being misinterpreted,” the spokesperson wrote in an email. “The data goes back decades; it includes individuals who entered the country over the past 40 years or more, the vast majority of whose custody determination was made long before this Administration. It also includes many who are under the jurisdiction or currently incarcerated by federal, state or local law enforcement partners.”
In a statement, the Trump campaign defended his comments, saying he was speaking only about murderers, not immigrants.
“President Trump was clearly referring to murderers, not migrants,” said Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt. “It’s pretty disgusting the media is always so quick to defend murderers, rapists, and illegal criminals if it means writing a bad headline about President Trump.”
The White House condemned Trump’s remarks.
“That type of language is hateful, it’s disgusting, it’s inappropriate and it has no place in our country,” White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said.
(Reporting by Gram Slattery in Washington, additional reporting by Kristina Cooke and Jarrett Renshaw, editing by Ross Colvin and Rod Nickel)
Trump attacks Harris’ economic plans, says she ‘wants to feed people governmentally’
Bryan Metzger – October 7, 2024
Trump gave a rambling response when discussing Kamala Harris’ economic proposals.
He said that she “wants to feed people governmentally.”
Trump also said that some immigrants have “bad genes” and are predisposed to murder.
In a Monday morning interview, former President Donald Trump made a series of outlandish and false claims about Vice President Kamala Harris’ economic proposals.
“She wants to go into government housing,” Trump said on The Hugh Hewitt Show. “She wants to go into government feeding. She wants to feed people. She wants to feed people governmentally. She wants to go into a communist party type of a system.”
It’s unclear what Trump meant by “government feeding,” and a Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The comment came after Hewitt, a conservative radio host, noted that Harris has proposed giving $25,000 in down-payment assistance to first-time homebuyers, a policy that some economists have warned would spike demand and raise prices.
“That’s going to drive the prices up, yeah,” Trump said. “Your price is going to be $100,000 dollars more now.”
More broadly, Harris has proposed working with the private sector via tax incentives to build three million more homes, despite the former president’s suggestion that she “wants to go into government housing.”
‘We’ve got a lot of bad genes in our country’
Moments later, Trump pivoted toward immigration, arguing that some immigrants have “bad genes” and are predisposed to murder.
“You know, now a murderer, I believe this, it’s in their genes,” Trump said. “And we’ve got a lot of bad genes in our country right now.”
It’s the latest example of Trump using inflammatory rhetoric to describe some immigrants. Last year, he said that some immigrants were “poisoning the blood” of the country, which was seen by many as a reference to racial purity.
Trump also claimed on Monday that Harris has allowed “people to come through an open border, 13,000 of which were murderers.” He was apparently referring to recently released data from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) indicating that more than 13,000 noncitizens in the US who have been convicted of homicide, either in the US or other countries.
The Department of Homeland Security has said that data is being misinterpreted, and that “the data goes back decades; it includes individuals who entered the country over the past 40 years or more.”
Donald Trump wants to reinstate a spoils system in federal government by hiring political loyalists regardless of competence
Sidney Shapiro, Wake Forest University and Joseph P. Tomain, University of Cincinnati – October 5, 2024
Then-President Donald Trump standing underneath a portrait of Andrew Jackson in November 2017. Oliver Contreras – Pool / Getty Images
If elected to serve a second term, Donald Trump says he supports a plan that would give him the authority to fire as many as 50,000 civil servants and replace them with members of his political party loyal to him. Under this plan, if he eventually deemed those new employees disloyal, he claims he could fire them too.
The United States has tried such a plan before.
As we write in our book “How Government Built America,” newly elected President Andrew Jackson, after he took office in 1828, fired about half the country’s civil servants and replaced them with loyal members of his political party.
The result was not only an utterly incompetent administration, but widespread corruption.
Swearing allegiance
Jackson’s actions that rewarded political loyalists and punished enemies were a dramatic departure from what the founders had envisioned by establishing an independent civil service whose members were literally pledged to uphold the country’s laws.
In passage of its very first law, on June 1, 1789, Congress required newly appointed federal officials to take the oath of office to uphold the laws of the country and faithfully carry out their duties.
Congress also passed conflict-of-interest legislation at that time to prevent employees from making decisions based on personal financial considerations.
When President George Washington – and the next five U.S. presidents – hired a new employee, reputations mattered. Each of the presidents looked at how an appointee’s neighbors regarded him and whether he had been elected to local office, an indication that the man – and they were all men – was competent and an honest employee.
That’s not what Jackson, the nation’s seventh president, and his system aimed to do; he wanted loyalists in government jobs.
The spoils system
While the first presidents were concerned with the competence and honesty of civil service employees, Jackson quickly set aside those concerns.
Instead of hiring those who wanted to work for the public interest and the good of the nation, Jackson employed members of his political party who pledged to march in lockstep with him and his policies. This became known as the “spoils system.”
Like Trump, Jackson also had a version of the “deep state” that he opposed. He claimed that the appointment process was aristocratic and blocked the appointment of the ordinary people he represented. He also insisted that experience and competence were unnecessary.
A cartoon of President Andrew Jackson atop a pig depicts his spoils system, which rewarded party members with government jobs. Bettmann / GettyImages
Jackson was quite wrong about some of his political appointments.
One of his worst was Samuel Swartwout, a longtime Army friend and political sycophant. Jackson named him to two consecutive terms as collector of customs at New York, where he served from 1829 through 1837.
Considered a plum assignment, the job at the time was the highest paid in federal government and involved collecting taxes and fees on imported goods that arrived in the nation’s busiest port.
But a congressional investigation showed that Swartwout had stolen a little more than US$1.2 million during his tenure, or about $40 million in today’s dollars.
Swartwout had fled to London, but he returned to the U.S. after he was assured that he would not face criminal charges.
Jackson also learned that his power to influence federal agencies with high-level appointments was limited. Such was the case with the U.S. Postal Service.
As a slaveholder, Jackson was disturbed by the mailing of antislavery flyers in 1835 by the American Anti-Slavery Society. Fearing the flyers would lead to a Black insurrection, Jackson instructed his postmaster general, Amos Kendall, an enslaver himself, to fix their problem by limiting the mailings and asking Congress to prohibit the U.S. Postal Service from mailing all abolitionist material.
Congress refused, citing freedom of speech and expansion of presidential authority as the main reasons.
Long after Jackson had left the White House, Congress, between 1864 and 1883, debated making “merit” a key condition of hiring new employees, but nothing happened until after a disgruntled office seeker assassinated President James Garfield.
Congress then passed the Pendleton Act in 1883, which established the merit appointment system still used today. It also put a virtual end to a system that allowed whichever party that won the White House to reward its supporters with tens of thousands of jobs.
But the law exempts about 4,000 federal employees whose appointment requires the Senate’s advice and consent and who have been determined by the president to hold a “confidential, policy-determining, policy-making or policy-advocating character.”
The idea is to give a new president the capacity to influence his policymaking by hiring top-level federal officials.
People seeking government jobs crashed the White House on the day of Andrew Jackson’s inauguration. Library of Congress
The plan that Trump supported would extend the president’s authority under the previous exemption to hire and fire tens of thousands of civil servants without regard to merit.
In short, he intends to reestablish the spoils system.
This is no idle threat.
Near the end of his administration, then-President Trump signed an executive order establishing a new job classification within the government’s career civil service called Schedule F for “employees in confidential, policy-determining, policy-making or policy-advocating positions.”
Under that designation, employees would lose virtually all of their civil service protections and could be fired without cause. It’s unclear how much effect Trump’s order had on the federal government because it was enacted two weeks before the 2020 election and was in effect for only a few months.
In our view, if political loyalty replaces merit as the basis of key federal appointments, Americans can expect government to be less competent – as Andrew Jackson learned during his administration.
While this might not matter to those who regard government as unimportant to the country – or worse, the enemy of the country – our book “How Government Built America” tells a much different story about the thousands of federal employees who provide everything from health services to protection from natural disasters.
Not every civil servant is a great employee, nor is every employee of private industry.
But there is ample proof that government works because of the many people behind the scenes in Washington and across the country who serve the American people – and uphold their oaths of office.
Sidney Shapiro is affiliated with the Center for Progressive Reform. .
Joseph P. Tomain does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Your left-leaning ‘protest vote’ is much worse than useless. It will reelect Trump | Opinion
Jeremy Fryberger – October 4, 2024
Imagn Images file photos
In recent months, the 2024 presidential election campaign has included more twists than a Chubby Checker tribute tour. Yet, at least one thing remains constant: When it comes to third-party candidates, older voters — and plenty of younger ones — have seen this story play out before.
In 2016, for example, an extraordinary number of centrists and left-leaners who normally would have supported the Democratic Party‘s presidential nominee — but who had been influenced by decades of disinformation against Hillary Clinton — instead chose Jill Stein or Gary Johnson (or simply didn’t vote). Some even championed the Republican candidate. Thus, many such third-party supporters, “protest votes” and no-shows not only wasted their ballots, but very much assisted putting Donald Trump and his cohort into the White House.
In 2000, Americans similar to those noted above backed not Democratic Party nominee Al Gore, but third-party option Ralph Nader — or just stayed home. And, in light of that election’s incredibly narrow outcome, these specific voters undeniably helped kick-start the eight-year George W. Bush administration — which included the 9/11 terror attacks, the commencement of two foreign wars and the Great Recession, which lasted from December 2007 to June 2009.
Were Bush or Trump even the second choices of these particular third-party or no-show voters? For almost all, it seems the answer is a resounding no — another reminder that elections are not games.
Meanwhile, aside from the relatively rare occurrence of a third-party presidential candidate joining a major party president’s Cabinet, it remains true in our country that the sole period during which third-party candidates (and their supporters) can influence Democratic or Republican policy positions is only before the general election. Yet, once November arrives — or whenever one casts a general election ballot — a third-party vote does nothing but distort the general election race.
As such, citizens who don’t live in one of the few places with ranked-choice voting and choose a third-party presidential option in November (or who don’t participate) will once again not only squander the moment — many of these voters will also inadvertently help their least-preferred candidate become president. And this time, that winning candidate could be a pathological lying, nonstop grifting, constantly crime-ing, twice impeached, quadruple indicted (so far), justice obstructing, society defrauding, court corrupting, national security compromising, alliance crushing, U.S. military disparaging, authoritarian loving, democracy dismantling, fascism-adjacent, anti-woman, sexual abusing, serial philandering, rabidly racist, white supremacist and nationalist, religiously bigoted and intolerant (but nonreligious), anti-science, environment destroying, always whining, vengeance seeking malignant narcissist and convicted felon (which, by the way, says nothing — or perhaps everything — about his 40-year-old running mate who would take charge if a certain 78-year-old couldn’t finish his term).
While none but men have led our nation throughout the U.S. presidency’s 235-year history — 45 of them white, and one African-American — citizens this year have the opportunity to elect not just our first woman president. And Kamala Harris would not be just our first Asian-African-American president, but a spectacularly qualified and prepared Asian-African-American woman president. Don’t miss this chance to be part of it.
Regardless, while tens of millions of Americans recognize the third party trap for what it is, every voter should trust history and avoid wasting their vote on any candidate who won’t possibly win — or even influence policy — yet could clear a path for another candidate and presidency that these very same voters want least of all.
Jeremy Fryberger is an architect living in Ketchum, Idaho, with his wife, their two children and dog.
What’s the healthiest fish to eat? Here are 4 types dietitians recommend — and what they say you should avoid.
Lauren Manaker – October 3, 2024
Salmon gets the stamp of approval from dietitians. But what other types of fish should you be eating? (Getty Creative)Catherine Falls Commercial via Getty Images
When it comes to healthy eating, you will be hard-pressed to find a health care provider who isn’t a fan of the tip to “eat more fish.” But, as a registered dietitian, I often remind clients that not every fish is considered a nutritional powerhouse. And while some types of fish are perfectly fine to eat frequently, others should be consumed with caution.
So what are the healthiest fish options you should be stacking on your plate, and what should you be skipping? Read on for the seafood scoop.
What are the health benefits of eating fish?
Many varieties of fish, particularly cold-water oily fish like salmon, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, “healthy” fats that support heart, brain and eye health.
Furthermore, fish is a source of high-quality protein while being lower in saturated fat, making it a smart choice for those seeking to maintain a balanced diet. It’s also packed with important nutrients such as vitamin D, selenium and iodine, which support immune function, bone health and thyroid regulation.
Despite the health benefits associated with regular fish consumption, many Americans aren’t eating enough. While the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating 8 ounces, or about two servings, of seafood (which includes fish and shellfish) per week, it notes that nearly 90% of Americans don’t meet that target.
What’s the healthiest fish to eat?
While most fish are excellent additions to a healthy and balanced diet, some stand out as “best” choices for various reasons. Here are four to try.
Salmon
“One of the healthiest fish is salmon, as it is high in health-promoting omega-3 fats,” Melissa Mitri, a registered dietitian, nutrition writer and owner of Melissa Mitri Nutrition, tells Yahoo Life. “Salmon is very nutrient-dense, providing a generous amount of protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals in a small portion.” That includes vitamins such as B12 and D and minerals like selenium, which support immune function and bone health.
It’s worth noting that wild salmon contains more protein and potassium — which is great for managing blood pressure — than farm-raised varieties. “Salmon is also low in mercury, a heavy metal that can be toxic to the nervous system and various organs in large amounts,” adds Mitri.
Farmed trout
“Farmed trout is a healthy choice due to its rich content of omega-3 fatty acids, which support heart health and reduce inflammation,” according to Mascha Davis, a registered dietitian nutritionist and author of Eat Your Vitamins. “It is also a great source of high-quality protein, [which is] essential for muscle growth and repair. Furthermore, it provides important micronutrients, including vitamin D and selenium, which contribute to overall well-being.”
Davis notes that there have been concerns about fish farming, also known as aquaculture. But she points to “significant advances” in the practice that have made it “more sustainable and cleaner.” Says Davis: “In the U.S., numerous farmed trout operations grow fish in fresh spring water, provide high-quality feed and ensure ethical care for the fish.” One easy way to ensure your farmed fish choices are responsibly raised and free from antibiotics is to look for an Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) label on your product.
Sardines
Sardines are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. They are a low-mercury fish option thanks to being small and low on the food chain, which limits their mercury accumulation compared with larger predatory fish. This makes them a safer choice for regular consumption, especially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and young children.
Choosing sardines with bones (they are soft and edible!) provides an extra boost of calcium, contributing to bone health.
Atlantic mackerel
Mackerel contains essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids. It is also a good source of protein, B vitamins and minerals such as selenium and potassium.
Why eat Atlantic mackerel in particular? Compared with other types of mackerel, such as king mackerel, Atlantic mackerel has a notably lower mercury concentration, making it a more health-conscious option.
What fish should I limit?
By and large, most fish, particularly oily varieties, is great for you. But there are considerations that should be made when it comes to consuming fish raw, or eating a type with a high mercury level. (And, of course, anyone with a shellfish allergy should avoid anything within that group.)
High-mercury fish
Mercury is a heavy metal that can accumulate in fish tissue. Consuming high levels of it can lead to serious health issues, including neurological and developmental problems. According to the Food and Drug Administration, limiting mercury is crucial for children and anyone who might become pregnant or breastfeeding.
Some high-mercury fish to avoid or limit include:
Shark
Swordfish
Marlin
King mackerel
Tilefish
Bigeye tuna
Raw fish
Consuming raw fish can pose health risks due to potential contamination with parasites, bacteria or viruses often eliminated through cooking. These pathogens can lead to foodborne illnesses when consumed. Certain individuals, including pregnant women, young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, should avoid eating raw fish due to their increased susceptibility to illness.
However, healthy people can generally eat raw fish safely if it is sushi grade, sourced from reputable suppliers and handled properly to prevent contamination. Moreover, certain fish, like salmon and tuna, are deemed safer to consume raw after being frozen at specific temperatures to kill parasites.
Eating too much fish
Eating fish is generally considered healthy. But consuming too much fish can lead to potential health risks, primarily due to the accumulation of mercury and other environmental contaminants in certain fish types. It is important to maintain a balanced intake by choosing fish lower in mercury, like salmon, sardines and trout, and following dietary guidelines to ensure a healthy, varied diet.
How can I get more fish into my diet?
Ready to reap the health benefits of eating fish? Here are some tips to help you hit that two-servings-a-week guidance. (And for anyone who doesn’t like the taste of fish, Mitri suggests starting with a “more neutral-tasting fish” like cod and going from there.)
Start with breakfast: Don’t limit fish to dinner. Add smoked salmon or trout to your morning scrambled eggs or avocado toast.
Experiment with tacos: Fish tacos are an easy and delicious way to add more fish to your diet. You can use grilled, baked or even canned fish as a filling.
Snack on fish: Sliced salmon with cream cheese on whole-grain crackers or tuna-stuffed cucumber boats provide a tasty and nutritious alternative to traditional snacks.
Include fish in soups and stews: This is an excellent way to enhance flavor and nutrition. Make a seafood chowder or add chunks of fish like cod or haddock to vegetable soup for a hearty meal.
Upgrade your sandwiches: Try a grilled fish sandwich with your favorite topping, or make a tuna melt for a quick and satisfying meal.
To maximize the health benefits of fish, opt for cooking methods like baking, grilling or steaming rather than frying your fish, which can add unhealthy fats. When seasoning or cooking, limit the use of butter and use healthier alternatives like olive oil or lemon juice to enhance flavor. Consider the overall composition of your meal by balancing your fish with a variety of colorful vegetables and whole grains, ensuring a well-rounded intake of essential nutrients and fiber.
Egg prices have gone up, but experts say it’s still worth making the protein-packed purchase. Here are the health benefits you’re getting from eggs — and how to extend their shelf life. [Yahoo Life]
Are you trying to cut back on how much meat you consume but not ready to give up meat entirely? Consider the flexitarian diet, which allows for small amounts of seafood and meat alongside whole grains, veggies, fruit, beans and more. [Today]
Trump claims Hurricane Helene response ‘going even worse’ than Katrina
Brett Samuels – October 3, 2024
Former President Trump on Thursday repeatedly attacked Vice President Harris and the Biden administration’s response to Hurricane Helene by claiming that the federal response so far has been worse than Hurricane Katrina in the latest instance of him turning a natural disaster into a political advantage.
Trump held a rally with supporters in Saginaw, Mich., where he repeatedly claimed the federal government did not have enough funds to respond to the devastation in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had spent its money on migrants, a notion the White House pushed back heavily on.
“There’s nobody that’s handled a hurricane or storm worse than what they’re doing right now,” Trump said. “Kamala spent all her FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal migrants. Many of whom should not be in our country.”
The White House spent the last 24 hours pushing back on Republicans who echoed similar, unsubstantiated claims.
“This is FALSE. The Disaster Relief Fund is specifically appropriated by Congress to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate impacts of natural disasters,” White House spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández said in a statement. “It is completely separate from other grant programs administered by FEMA for DHS.”
Biden has also called on Congress to return from recess to pass additional funding to assist with the recovery efforts. The House and Senate are not due to return to Washington until after the election.
Despite that, Trump went on to call the federal response to Helene “the worst response in the history of hurricanes.”
“A certain president, I will not name him, destroyed his reputation with Katrina,” Trump said, referring to former President George W. Bush. “And this is going even worse. She’s doing even worse than he did.”
The Biden administration has deployed more than 4,800 federal officials to support response efforts, and the president directed the deployment of up to 1,000 troops to assist in North Carolina’s recovery.
President Biden traveled Wednesday to North Carolina to tour storm damage, and he visited Florida and Georgia on Thursday to do the same. He was notably not joined by either Republican governor of either state. Harris traveled to Georgia on Wednesday and is expected to visit North Carolina in the coming days.
The federal government has also been working with states to provide housing assistance for those who need it and to restore power amid widespread outages. Biden has approved major disaster declarations for Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia to free up additional resources.
It’s only fed Trump’s history of politicizing responses to natural disasters.
He repeatedly feuded with officials in Puerto Rico as multiple hurricanes hit the island in 2017, the first year he was in office when he claimed without evidence that Democrats had inflated the death toll from Hurricane Maria to make him look bad.
Trump in 2019 insisted Alabama could bear the brunt of Hurricane Dorian, which ultimately landed on the East Coast. In making his claim, Trump used a marked-up projection map produced by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration that conflicted with information given by weather forecasters.
During devastating wildfires in California in 2018, E&E News reported Thursday that White House officials had to show then-President Trump voter data to convince him to release funding for California wildfire victims, hesitating to give money to a blue state.
“You can’t only help those in need if they voted for you,” Biden posted on the social platform X in response to the report. “It’s the most basic part of being president, and this guy knows nothing about it.”
Sickening Report Reveals How Trump Played Politics With Disaster Aid
Hafiz Rashid – October 3, 2024
Donald Trump’s attempt to politicize the devastation left by Hurricane Helene isn’t the first time he’s tried to exploit a natural disaster. While he was president, Trump was hesitant to send aid to areas where people voted against him, such as wildfire-stricken California, according to two former White House staffers.
E&E News spoke to Mark Harvey, Trump’s senior director for resilience policy on the National Security Council, who said that Trump didn’t want to send wildfire aid to California in 2018 because the state voted Democratic. But after Harvey showed him voting data from Orange County, California, showing more Trump supporters there than in all of Iowa, Trump changed his mind.
“We went as far as looking up how many votes he got in those impacted areas … to show him these are people who voted for you,” Harvey, who recently endorsed Kamala Harris along with other GOP national security figures, told E&E News.
Former White House Homeland Security adviser Oliva Troye concurred, saying that she would field calls from local politicians around the country asking for disaster relief because Trump refused to provide aid, leading her to frequently ask Vice President Mike Pence to pressure the president. She warned that Trump will play politics with disaster aid again if he returns to the White House.
“It’s not going to be about that American voter out there who isn’t even really paying attention to politics, and their house is gone, and the president of the United States is judging them for how they voted, and they didn’t even vote,” Troye said.
Trump eagerly sent aid to Florida in 2019 after Hurricane Michael hit the state’s Panhandle, according to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s autobiography, The Courage to Be Free. “They love me in the Panhandle,” Trump told DeSantis after he asked for federal assistance.
“I must have won 90 percent of the vote out there. Huge crowds. What do they need?” Trump asked, before directing FEMA to pay 100 percent of the state’s disaster costs. The emergency management agency ended up paying about $350 million more than it would have without Trump’s directive. In contrast, Trump only months earlier threatened to veto a bill in Congress that would have paid 100 percent of the disaster costs in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
Since Hurricane Helene hit the American Southeast, Trump has pushed conspiracy theories that Democrats are neglecting Republican areas hit hard by the storm, doubling down after being called out. Even Republican politicians, like Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, are pushing back against him. But as is often the case with Trump, every accusation is just a confession.
Trump Refused to Approve Wildfire Aid Until He Learned Affected Areas Were MAGA: Report
Nikki McCann Ramirez – October 3, 2024
As the death toll from Hurricane Helene surpasses 200 people and the Southeast continues to reel from the disaster, Donald Trump is working overtime to politicize the tragedy into an attack against his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Despite governors from both political parties lauding of the Biden administration’s response, Trump is insisting the federal government has abandoned affected communities.
Earlier this week, Trump baselessly claimed that “the Federal Government, and the Democrat Governor of [North Carolina are] going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas,” ahead of a visit to a disaster zone in Valdosta, Georgia. But for all of the former president’s posturing as a capable leader who would better handle the crisis, his record in the White House says otherwise.
According to a Thursday report from E&E News, in 2018 — as wildfires ravaged large swaths of California — Trump initially refused to approve aid to the state because he felt some of the affected regions didn’t like him enough.
Mark Harvey, then Trump’s senior director for resilience policy on the National Security Council staff, told E&E News, a subset of Politico, that the former president only approved the aid after being shown data proving that the affected counties contained a sufficient amount of his supporters.
“We went as far as looking up how many votes he got in those impacted areas … to show him these are people who voted for you,” Harvey recalled. His account was backed up by former Trump White House Homeland Security Adviser Olivia Troy.
It’s not the only time Trump based his response to a national disaster on the politics of those caught in its wake. A 2021 report found that the Trump administration blocked nearly $20 billion in hurricane relief to Puerto Rico in the aftermath of 2017’s Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island. Trump publicly bashed San Juan’s mayor at the time — Carmen Yulín Cruz, who had been critical of Trump — as “incompetent,” and downplayed the severity of the storm that killed nearly 3,000 people.
Last year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in his memoir described speaking to Trump in 2019 after Hurricane Michael swept through northern Florida. DeSantis requested that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) foot the entire bill for recovery efforts instead of the standard 75 percent.
“This is Trump country — and they need your help,” DeSantis pitched Trump.
“They love me in the panhandle,” the former president said. “I must have won 90 percent of the vote out there. Huge crowds. What do they need?” Shortly after the conversation took place, Trump signed an executive order commanding the federal government to cover “100 percent of the total eligible costs” related to the hurricane response.
According to an analysis by E&E news, the decision resulted in FEMA paying “roughly $350 million more than it would have without Trump’s intervention.”
Trump’s impulse to make his responsibilities to Americans contingent on their politics has not vanished since he left office. Shortly before he took it upon himself to politicize the response to Helene, he threatened to withhold aid for natural disasters from Democratic strongholds.
“We won’t give him money to put out all his fires,” Trump said of California Gov. Gavin Newson, a Democrat, in September. “And, if we don’t give him the money to put out his fires. He’s got problems. He’s a lousy governor.”
Newsom countered that Trump had effectively threatened to “block emergency disaster funds to settle political vendettas.”
“Today it’s California’s wildfires. Tomorrow it could be hurricane funding for North Carolina,” he added.
A hurricane in North Carolina is exactly what happened, and Trump’s focus has not been on aiding the disaster response, but on basing his political rivals.
Hurricane Helene by the numbers: Catastrophic destruction covers 400 miles
Meredith Deliso – September 30, 2024
After making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region Thursday night as a major Category 4 hurricane, Helene has caused catastrophic storm surge, wind damage and inland flooding across a wide swath of the South.
Here’s a look at the storm by the numbers, as impacted communities continue to gain a fuller picture of the deadly destruction.
PHOTO: A drone view shows a damaged area, following the passing of Hurricane Helene, in Asheville, N.C., Sept. 29, 2024. (Marco Bello/Reuters)
Category 4
Helene was the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Big Bend region on record, making landfall near Perry, Florida, as a Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds.
400 miles
Helene left a widespread path of destruction across the Southeast — from Florida’s Big Bend to Asheville, North Carolina, nearly 400 miles from where the storm made landfall.
PHOTO: A damaged 100-year-old home is seen after an Oak tree landed on it after Hurricane Helene moved through the area Sept. 27, 2024, in Valdosta, Ga. (Mike Stewart/AP)
At least 132 people have been killed by Helene in six states — Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia — the Associated Press reported Monday.
Forty people are dead in hard-hit Buncombe County, North Carolina, which encompasses Asheville, according to county officials. Another 600 remain unaccounted for in the county amid widespread power and cell service outages, officials said.
In Unicoi County in Tennessee, at least 73 people remained unaccounted for as of Sunday morning, local officials said.
More than 30 inches of rain
PHOTO: Heavy rains from hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage in Asheville, NC, Sept. 28, 2024. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)
Helene, and a separate system earlier in the week, dumped more than 30 inches of rain on North Carolina and produced the biggest local flooding in recorded history.
The flooding in western North Carolina surpassed records that stood for more than a century. The French Broad River in Asheville peaked at 24.67 feet, breaking the previous record of 23.1 feet from July 1916.
Elsewhere, Georgia saw a historic 11 inches of rainfall from the combination of Hurricane Helene and a storm earlier in the week.
The storm surge was more than 15 feet above ground level in parts of Florida, including Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee, both in Taylor County, and Horseshoe Beach in Dixie County.
Record storm surge also hit the Tampa Bay area, with 7.2 feet reported in Tampa East Bay — beating a record of 4.56 feet set in 2023.
Over 20 reported tornadoes
There were more than 20 reported tornadoes across five states — Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia — amid the storm.
In Rocky Mount, North Carolina, 15 people were injured — including four seriously — after a tornado tore through the city on Friday, the National Weather Service said.
PHOTO: Debris and smashed vehicles are scattered across a parking lot near Hing Ta Restaurant after a tornado hit Rocky Mount, N.C., Sept. 27, 2024. (City of Rocky Mount via AP)
400 roads closed in 1 state
In North Carolina, extreme floods washed away homes and bridges. At one point, authorities closed 400 roads, deeming them unsafe for travel, state officials said.
As of Monday, travel in western North Carolina should only be for emergencies, as hundreds of Helene-related road issues persisted, officials said.
In Florida, emergency responders had to bulldoze 4 to 5 feet of sand off roads in the wake of Helene, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday while updating that all state roads were expected to have reopened by the end of the day.
4 million customers
More than 4 million customers lost power across the South on Friday in the wake of Helene.
Nearly 2 million customers, from Florida to Ohio, were still without power as of Monday afternoon.
PHOTO: An airboat transporting residents rescued from flood waters due to storm surge due from Hurricane Helene is seen Sept. 27, 2024 in Crystal River,Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times/ZUMA via Shutterstock)More
Thousands of successful rescue missions were reported in Florida, DeSantis said Monday.
In North Carolina, more than 200 people had been rescued from floodwaters amid Helene, Gov. Roy Cooper said Saturday. Over 150 rescues were performed in Buncombe County alone, officials said.
In Tennessee’s Unicoi County, 54 patients and staff were rescued via helicopter on Friday after getting trapped on the roof of a hospital amid swiftly rising floodwaters.
ABC News’ Melissa Griffin and Max Golembo contributed to this report.
