Amidst the rampage of Hurricane Helene, entire communities have been demolished, leaving families absolutely devastated. The Biden Administration is failing to secure confidence in people affected by the disaster and those concerned nationwide.
Conspiracy theories sourcing from X are drastically affecting how citizens perceive the crisis and the matter in which it is being handled. False claims of dams on the verge of bursting and a second storm on its way have plagued the algorithms of many. Representative Marjorie Taylor Green posted to X, “Yes ‘they’ control the weather” on Saturday night, alluding that the Democratic Party created Hurricane Helene, which as of Saturday has taken 227 lives across six states. A sane voice within the government is essential when elected officials spread such conspiracy.
Along with this, former President Donald Trump has spread many false claims surrounding the hurricane aid. On Thursday, Trump claimed Vice President Harris had stolen Federal Emergency Management Agency money to give it to “illegal immigrants.” This is an abhorrently untrue statement used by Trump in an attempt to weaponize falsely interpreted facts against undocumented people, causing division in a time where unity is essential. The funding from FEMA that had been authorized by Congress was for the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), not associated with disaster relief. This is just one of over half a dozen lies the former president has spread about the hurricane aid this week, with no statements from Biden disproving such claims.
The Biden Administration has contributed over $137 million to funding relief for Hurricane Helene survivors. Despite bipartisan approval and praise for the administration’s handling of the crisis, President Biden’s inability to efficiently disprove lies and conspiracies proves to be the leading issue. As victims of the disaster continue to search for loved ones, truth and solidarity are desperately needed. The country needs a competent president to support and validate the truth in devastating times when citizens are most vulnerable to conspiracy.
