Biden Says He Led Hurricane Response Remotely: ‘It’s Called a Telephone’

President Joe Biden faced scrutiny on Monday after defending his decision to command Hurricane Helene relief efforts from afar while vacationing in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Despite not being in Washington, D.C., during the hurricane's aftermath, Biden insisted that he was fully engaged, saying, “I was commanding. It’s called a telephone.”

Biden’s remarks came after a reporter questioned why neither he nor Vice President Kamala Harris were in Washington during the weekend when the storm caused significant devastation across the southeastern U.S. The Category 4 hurricane made landfall late Thursday, leaving a trail of destruction, including at least 107 reported deaths, with North Carolina particularly hard-hit. The president’s defense that he was "on the phone for at least two hours" did little to quell criticism.

While Biden approved disaster relief to help affected states like North Carolina, Harris was in California attending high-dollar fundraising events. Harris later posted a photo of herself working remotely, claiming she was in touch with leaders about the storm. However, the optics of both leaders being away from the White House during a national crisis didn’t sit well with many.

Former President Donald Trump was quick to respond, sharing a screenshot of Harris’ post on his Truth Social platform, labeling it a “FAKE and STAGED photo” and slamming both Biden and Harris for their absence. “They left Americans to drown in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and elsewhere in the South,” Trump wrote.

Here’s a look at the controversy:

• Over 100 deaths were confirmed as a result of the hurricane, with many states, including North Carolina, still reeling from the destruction.

• Biden's reliance on remote leadership while away from Washington was criticized as inadequate by his political opponents.

• Harris’ fundraising trip to California during the crisis further fueled accusations that the administration is more focused on political gain than addressing urgent needs on the ground.

While Biden and Harris are expected to visit hurricane-stricken areas later this week, critics argue that their delayed response speaks to a broader issue of disconnection from the reality facing Americans in disaster zones. Meanwhile, Trump is scheduled to visit Georgia, one of the states hit hardest by the storm.

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