As the death toll from Hurricane Helene rises, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are being briefed by officials. The storm is hitting right in the middle of the White House race, with just five weeks to go before Election Day.
Trump stopped in Valdosta, Georgia, to get a briefing and help with relief efforts. His campaign said he would also make remarks to the press.
Harris cut short her campaign trip and returned to Washington, D.C., on Monday. The White House said she would head to FEMA headquarters to get updates on the storm and the federal response to rescue efforts.
Hurricane Helene has killed over 120 people since it hit Florida last Thursday. The storm has left millions without power and caused billions in damages as it moved through the Southeast, including North Carolina and Georgia, key battleground states for the upcoming election.
At a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump criticized the administration, accusing President Biden of "sleeping" at his beach house during the storm. He told reporters in Valdosta that "the federal government is not being responsive."
Biden returned to Washington on Sunday to monitor relief efforts. The White House said over 3,300 federal workers and 50,000 personnel are responding to the crisis. Biden assured reporters that "we're not leaving until the job is done."
Biden also said he plans to visit the storm-affected areas later this week. He emphasized that his presence won’t disrupt recovery efforts.
At his rally, Trump criticized Harris for attending fundraising events in California while the storm hit. He said she "ought to be down in the area" affected by the storm. On Monday, he repeated that criticism, saying she was "out someplace campaigning."
The White House stated that Harris spoke with the governors of Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. She plans to visit the impacted communities soon without disrupting relief efforts.
Trump visited Valdosta and was briefed by FEMA and local officials. He also toured a damaged furniture store and highlighted the relief aid he brought. He stressed that "we're not talking about politics now" and that everyone must work together to solve the crisis.
He brought trucks filled with relief aid, including gasoline, to help the affected areas. His campaign made sure to highlight this during his visit.
Responses to natural disasters often shape political careers. Trump faced backlash early in his presidency for how he handled storm relief in Puerto Rico, especially after he was seen throwing paper towels to the crowd during his visit.