Harris: Trump ‘lacks empathy’ in suggesting FEMA diverting funds away from hurricane relief

Vice President Harris on Tuesday suggested that former President Trump doesn’t have compassion for others when discussing his claims that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is redirecting disaster relief funds to migrants.

“It’s profound and it is the height of irresponsibility and frankly, callousness. So, lives are literally at stake right now,” Harris said on ABC’s “The View,” when asked what she thinks the impact of Trump’s “lies” are by host Ana Navarra.

Harris highlighted what she learned from victims on the ground in North Carolina and Georgia during her trips after Hurricane Helene last week.

“People are losing their home with no hope of ever being able to reconstruct and return and the idea that somebody would be playing political games for the sake of himself,” she added. “But this is so consistent about Donald Trump. He puts himself before the needs of others. I fear that he really lacks empathy on a very basic level, to care about the suffering of other people… especially in a time of crisis.”

Trump said at a rally in Michigan last week that disaster relief funding was all spent on migrants while criticizing the administration’s response effort.

“Kamala spent all her FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal migrants. Many of whom should not be in our country,” he said.

FEMA pushed back, releasing a fact-check page Friday, outlining that “no money has been diverted” and that “FEMA has enough money right now for immediate response and recovery needs.”

And, the White House bashed Republicans for what it argues are lies about the federal response effort, warning about the consequences of spreading falsehoods when people are in need.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Fox News reporter Peter Doocy sparred on Monday over the federal response when Doocy asked, “If he’s got money for people in Lebanon, what does it say… if there is not enough money for people in North Carolina?” without specifying what money the U.S. is sending to Lebanon.

“Your whole premise of your question is misinformation, sir,” Jean-Pierre shot back.

Doocy referenced a recent letter from Biden to congressional leaders asking for them to return from recess to approve more funding for hurricane relief efforts. Jean-Pierre said that there is money allocated to impact areas while the president called Congress to come back to pass additional funding.