Staff Reports
In a cringe-worthy display of governmental priorities, Vice President Kamala Harris recently made headlines for her announcement of relief for families devastated by Hurricane Helene. During a visit to Augusta, Georgia, Harris boasted about the government’s response, including the paltry sum of $750 offered to those reeling from the storm’s destruction. This figure, which sounds more like a tip than real relief, has become the punchline in a national joke about the Biden administration’s commitment to American citizens versus their seemingly unlimited resources when it comes to funding aid for other nations.
Just days before Harris’s dramatic unveiling of federal assistance, former President Donald Trump had been in Georgia, highlighting the government’s apparent lack of urgency in tackling the hurricane’s fallout. While Trump continued to campaign for American priorities, including border security and energy independence, Harris appeared unfazed, waving around the promise of financial help that barely scratches the surface of the needs created by the disaster. The Vice President declared that FEMA assistance could include one-time payments of $750 for essentials like baby formula and food, which seems an insult for families who have lost everything.
Lets check in on our government:
Biden announced a new $2.4B aid package to Ukraine last week while Kamala announced today that victims of Hurricane Helene will get a mere $750.
Oh, and FEMA doesn't have enough money to make it through hurricane season yet spent $640M on… pic.twitter.com/otIebCIidC
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 3, 2024
The irony, however, is rich. While Biden recently announced a hefty $2.4 billion aid package for Ukraine during this same hurricane crisis, Americans affected by Hurricane Helene get left holding the bag—specifically, a bag containing a measly $750. Critics have pointed out the disconnect here: more money is readily available for foreign ventures, while FEMA, grappling with its budget constraints, struggles to provide support for American citizens in dire need. Rep. Cory Mills of Florida aptly noted that government resources seem to prioritize immigration resettlement over disaster relief for U.S. citizens. This raises the critical question: Who exactly is the Biden administration focused on helping?
Social media has erupted in response to Harris’s underwhelming disaster aid announcement, with many users vocally criticizing the administration. Striking comparisons with funds given to illegal immigrants only add fuel to the fire. The disparity is glaring, with amounts like $175 billion for Ukraine and $150.7 billion for illegal aliens contrasting sharply with the mere $750 allocated to those impacted by natural disasters in the United States. This prompts many to cry out that “this is Kamala’s America,” implying a troubling trend of prioritizing the needs of non-citizens over those of Americans.
Furthermore, Harris’s cavalier approach has not gone unnoticed. Her response to the hurricane crisis has been labeled as one of the worst in recent history, with critics claiming the Biden administration is failing spectacularly in their duty to protect and assist American citizens. Trump underscored this failure on social media, calling the federal response to Hurricane Helene “the worst & most intact managed ‘STORM’” ever seen. The juxtaposition of lavish aid to foreign nations while American families are left begging for scraps is becoming a hallmark of this administration.
As the Biden-Harris team continues to grapple with public perception, especially in light of their handling of natural disasters mixed with their openness to foreign aid, many wonder just how far this administration is willing to push the notion of prioritizing international issues at the expense of American lives. The common refrain echoes loudly: Americans deserve better than a mere $750 check when their homes and lives remain in shambles.
