Trump assesses the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in Georgia

WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump pursued disaster politics on Monday, traveling to the battleground state of Georgia to survey the damage from Hurricane Helene.

Trump refrained from directly criticizing President Joe Biden and his 2024 White House rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, as he visited the devastated Valdosta area in Georgia. Trump told reporters “we’re not talking politics right now,” but he actually attacked Biden and Harris’ response to the hurricane in the hours before the trip.

On Monday, Trump mocked Harris’ statement and photo regarding a hurricane briefing she received in a post on his Truth Social platform. In another post about his trip to Valdosta, Trump wrote: “I will be there soon, but I don’t like the reports I’m receiving about the federal government.”

Administration officials have said it is not advisable for Harris and Biden to travel now as local leaders are still assessing the extent of the damage and trying to save lives.

In his public remarks in Valdosta, Trump said that “we really need help from the federal government.” He also falsely said that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp – a Republican who did not attend the event – tried to contact Biden about aid but was unsuccessful.

The White House quickly noted that Biden and Kemp had indeed spoken. Biden on Monday criticized Trump’s comments, saying: “I don’t know why he’s doing this and why I’m so upset about it. I don’t care what he says about me, but I care what he tells people who are in need. It suggests that we are not doing everything possible.

Trump said he brought truckloads of aid with him to Georgia, including fuel, water and equipment. The former president tried to offer encouragement to residents recovering from the Category 4 storm that left at least 100 people dead and left more than 2 million homes and businesses across the region still without power.

“I would buy some furniture if you had it there,” Trump told the owners of a local store that suffered damage during the hurricane.

“It’s called the hour of need,” the Republican presidential candidate also told supporters in Georgia. “You are in our prayers.” In brief remarks, he promised: “We all need to come together and solve this problem.”

Still, during a Sunday speech in Erie, Pennsylvania, Trump accused Biden of “sleeping” in Delaware while Helene made her way south.

The Trump presidential campaign added a Monday visit to Valdosta to its Sunday schedule. The campaign statement said Trump “will receive a briefing on the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, facilitate the distribution of humanitarian aid and provide remarks to the press.”

Trump and his aides have already begun criticizing the Biden administration’s response, including the lack of a visit by Biden and Harris, even though officials on the ground are still assessing the extent of the damage. Administration officials said Harris and Biden did not want to divert the attention of police and first responders to ensure the safety of VIPs as they were just beginning their recovery and cleanup.

“The vice president intends to visit affected communities as quickly as possible without disrupting relief efforts,” the administration said in a statement.

Some opponents criticized Trump and accused him of interfering with local emergency services.

In one of his critical posts on Truth Social, Trump stated that he also wanted to visit ravaged North Carolina – another battleground state – but “access and communications are currently limited, and we want to make sure local emergency management is able to focus to help the most affected people.”