Hurricane Milton Live: Biden and Harris condemn disinformation about storms ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden warned that Hurricane Milton possessed immense destructive power and implored individuals to seek safe refuge, while denouncing the spread of false information about the storm as contrary to American values.

Biden stated, “It’s harmful to those who need help,” referring to the misinformation circulating about the storm and the government’s response.

Ahead of the Nov. 5 election, Republican former President Donald Trump, who is challenging Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, has sought to portray the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the recent storms as inadequate. This includes making unsubstantiated claims that aid and funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had been sent to migrants.

Vice President Harris, in an interview with CNN, emphasized the dangerous nature of such disinformation, saying: “It’s dangerous – it’s frankly unconscionable that anyone who considers themselves a leader would deceive desperate people so that these desperate people wouldn’t get the help what they are entitled to, and that is why I call it dangerous.”

When asked about Trump’s motives for spreading misinformation, Biden expressed uncertainty, noting, “I just don’t know.” You can speculate, but I just think – I’ve used the phrase more times than I’ve ever used it in my career. – it’s un-American. It’s not who we are.’

At least three Republican members of Congress, including Rep. Chuck Edwards, whose North Carolina district was hit hard by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, denounced conspiracy theories promoted by their party members regarding the storms.

In an effort to combat misinformation, FEMA has created a special page on its website titled “Hurricane Rumor Response.” The purpose of this page is to dispel rumors, including the false claim that the agency was preventing people in Florida from accessing assistance.