Joe Biden finally addressed the nation Monday on the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which left over 1,000 people unaccounted for and claimed at least 100 lives across several southern states. The president, however, faced sharp criticism after spending the weekend at his Rehoboth Beach vacation home while residents in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas were reeling from the storm’s destruction.
Hurricane Helene hit the Southeast with unprecedented force, causing catastrophic flooding in cities like Asheville, North Carolina. Footage from Asheville shows cars and trucks being tossed around by powerful floodwaters. One local resident described the damage: “I’ve never seen devastation like this.” Meanwhile, in Tennessee, the Kisner Bridge in Afton collapsed due to the flooding, further isolating already struggling communities.
Despite the destruction, both Biden and Kamala Harris were notably absent from the public eye throughout the weekend. Biden’s delayed response sparked outrage, with many Americans questioning his priorities. As they dealt with the destruction, victims of Hurricane Helene were reminded of the billions of dollars Biden has sent to Ukraine while their own disaster response seemed sluggish. Kamala Harris, on the other hand, was busy fundraising in California, leaving the flood-stricken Southeast with no leadership presence.
When Biden finally emerged to speak on Monday, his performance left much to be desired. He mumbled through his remarks, offering little comfort or clarity to those affected by the hurricane. His exit was equally unimpressive—Biden hurriedly walked away from the podium, avoiding further questions.
One reporter did manage to get a question in, asking why Biden and Harris had been missing in action throughout the weekend. Biden snapped back, claiming he had been “commanding” from his vacation home. “I was on the phone for at least two hours yesterday and the day before as well! I command! It’s called the telephone!” he retorted.
REPORTER: "On the hurricane, why weren't you and VP Harris here in Washington commanding this this weekend?"
BIDEN: "I was commanding!"
(He was at his beach house and Kamala was fundraising in San Francisco) pic.twitter.com/3LmFI0KiRN
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 30, 2024
With the administration’s weak response to Hurricane Helene and the president’s dismissive attitude towards criticism, many Americans are left wondering: where were Biden and Harris when leadership was needed most?