In 2021–22, Fox “News” and the GOP media conducted a massive disinformation campaign aimed at discouraging their followers from getting vaccinated for covid. It was deadly effective — a disproportionate number of Republicans didn’t get vaccinated and 8 out of 10 states with the highest covid death rates were red states carried by Trump in 2020. The GOP media killed their own audience to own the libs.
Now it’s happening again. This time, Don Old Trump — with the help of Elon Musk -is spreading disinformation and lies about the federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Once again, MAGA Republicans are being harmed by their own so-called “leaders.” Trump’s lies are so dangerous that elected Republican officials and Fox “News” are pushing back.
Hurricane and FEMA disinformation is spreading like a prairie fire right now on X/Twitter and other social media outlets. This is the result of the MAGA cult exploiting conspiracy theories for their own ends and harming people in the process. The Republican leaders in the areas affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton have realized that it’s hurting their own voters. If they had stood up to the GOP media during the pandemic, many lives could have been saved.
Federal and state officials have debunked Trump’s reckless claims. Republican elected officials have praised President Joe Biden’s response to the hurricanes.
Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said at a press conference that federal assistance had “been superb.”
Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin stated: “I’m incredibly appreciative of the rapid response and the cooperation from the federal team at FEMA.” He specifically thanked Biden, among others, in a press release.
Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee commented that the response to his emergency declaration “was quick from the federal government,” adding there was “a fast turnaround, frankly,” in making the state eligible for some federal reimbursements.
Senator Tom Tillis (R-NC) on the federal response: “They’re doing a great job.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) expressed his appreciation for the role the federal government has played in responding to Hurricane Helene, contradicting comments from Don Old Trump, who falsely claimed that Kemp had trouble reaching President Biden.
Even Ron DeSantis fact checked Trump by making it clear that the Biden/Harris administration has provided Florida with all the resources it needs to fight against Hurricane Helene and Milton.
The most serious situation is the hurricane response. Prominent elected Republicans have increasingly spoken out against disinformation that’s aimed at criticizing the Biden administration’s response. They have often spoken broadly, without mentioning Trump, for fear of offending him and angering his followers. What’s most revealing is that they often mention specific lies Trump has promoted and politicized. The message seems to be: Knock it off.
Representative Chuck Edwards (R-NC) represents hard hit western North Carolina. He issued the following press release:
“FEMA is NOT stopping trucks or vehicles with donations, confiscating or seizing supplies, or otherwise turning away donations.
FEMA has NOT diverted disaster response funding to the border or foreign aid.
FEMA is NOT going to run out of money.
FEMA is NOT only providing $750 to disaster survivors to support their recovery. This award is just the first step of a longer process to provide financial assistance to disaster survivors in need of federal support.
I encourage you to remember that everything you see on Facebook, X, or any other social media platform is not always fact. Please make sure you are fact checking what you read online with a reputable source.”
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) contradicted Trump by saying that “we have the resources that we need.” He added that FEMA money spent on migrants is not “affecting the flow of resources to western North Carolina.” .
“The last thing that the victims of Helene need right now is political posturing, finger-pointing, or conspiracy theories that only hurt the response effort,” Tillis (R-N.C.) stated in a letter to his constituents.
Knox County, Tennessee, Mayor Glenn Jacobs (R) also referenced the same lie about migrants urging: “Please quit spreading those rumors as they are counterproductive to response efforts.”
Trump and Musk’s lies have gotten so dangerous that a senior aid to DeSantis posted on Twitter to denounce it. Christina Pushaw said spreading lies can have “serious consequences.”
In a startling move, Fox “News” is pushing back against Trump’s disinformation. This is a significant development since Rupert Murdoch is a major power broker in the Republican Party. He is the equivalent of the old fashioned party boss. Apparently, Fox isn’t willing to sacrifice its audience during an election year.
Fox obtained a Republican fact sheet showing that some of the Fox “News” stars and other Republicans have been lying about FEMA’s response. It says that FEMA “has enough funding in the short-term to address immediate needs for both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.” It also declares there is “no funding connection between” the migrant shelter program and the Disaster Relief Fund. Chad Pergram of Fox “News.”
Fox “News” star Neil Cavuto took a pot shot at convicted felon Trump for his lies about hurricane relief money for people in North Carolina, Florida and other states hit by the hurricanes in recent weeks.
“We’ve also got a lot of misinformation, don’t we? We get people who say in North Carolina that if you’re a Republican, you’re not going to get help, if you’re a Democrat, you’ll get help,” Cavuto said last week during an interview with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
“I would imagine that does a huge disservice to people working together and scares the bejesus out of others when they believe it,” he added. Buttigieg replied: “Absolutely.”
Cavuto ended the interview by blasting Trump: “That kind of misinformation gets out there, and whether it’s perpetrated by a politician or someone you think is someone of note and authority, it is wrong. And it cannot be tolerated.”
Some victims of the storms aren’t applying for aid or didn’t follow evacuation orders due to Trump/MAGA disinformation. Trump’s lies have even affected people on the ground who trying to provide relief to the victims. FEMA employees have been subjected to threats of violence, according to one agency official. There have even been a wave of anti-Semitic threats being leveled at FEMA officials involved in the response to Hurricane Helene.
“The Trump/MAGA campaign to undermine FEMA and deliberately lie to people about disaster assistance is going to get people killed. Plain and simple.” Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT.)
Trump spreads lies and chaos wherever he goes. A majority of the American people are tired of it and want it to end. A recent Big Village poll indicated that 57% of registered voters agreed with this statement: “I am simply exhausted by the day-to-day news surrounding Trump and can’t wait for the day that the country can move on from him.” Even 31% of Republicans agreed. (Only 29% of registered voters disagreed.)
Convicted felon Don Old Trump has decided to close the election with a flurry of lies, disinformation and intentional cruelty relating to the massive hurricane relief effort in the wake of Helene and Milton. The election is about help versus chaos and lies.
It’s America or Dementia Don Old Trump. Choose wisely.