Kamala Harris Slams Donald Trump for 'Playing Games' with Hurricane Misinformation: 'I Fear He Lacks Empathy'
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10/08/2024 04:47 PM
"Lives are literally at stake right now," Harris said on 'The View,' slamming Trump's false claims about the Biden administration's disaster relief efforts
CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty
Kamala Harris on "The View"Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on The Viewon Tuesday, Oct. 8, and discussed the recent onslaught of major storms imperiling the southeast, criticizing former President Donald Trump for his claims that the Biden administration was withholding aid to affected areas.
"It's profound and it is the height of irresponsibility, and frankly callousness," Harris said on the ABC talk show. "Lives are literally at stake right now."
Harris was asked to give her response to Trump after he falsely accused Biden of directing federal disaster funds to migrants. The claims came after Hurricane Helene brought destruction to several states last week, including North Carolina and Georgia.
The vice president told The View co-hosts that she visited both states in the aftermath of Helene and spoke to people who lost "everything."
"The idea that somebody would be playing political games for the sake of himself, but this is so consistent about Donald Trump: He puts himself before the needs of others," Harris said. "I fear that he really lacks empathy on a very basic level, to care about the suffering of other people and then to understand the role of a leader is not to beat people down — it's to lift people up, especially in a time of crisis."
After Helene caused catastrophic damage to the region, another major storm, Hurricane Milton, is expected to ravage parts of Florida.
Related: Hurricane Milton's Path Threatens to Devastate Florida Days After Helene: Live Updates
Harris was asked on the show about her communication with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been a fierce critic of the Biden administration and reportedly refused to answer her call.
"I have called and talked with, in the course of this most recent crisis, Democrat and Republican governors," Harris said. "Called, taken the call, answered the call, had a conversation. So obviously this is not an issue that is about partisanship or politics for certain leaders, but maybe it is for others."
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Harris further urged people living in the hurricane's path to heed warnings from authorities in anticipation of the storm.
"I urge everybody and anybody who is watching or has family members in that area, please, please, please take seriously your local officials," she said. " If they're telling you to evacuate, get your stuff and go … Floridians, tough folks, been through a lot — but this is gonna be different than they've been before."
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