(NewsNation) — Hurricane Milton has the potential to shake up a presidential race that has already seen more than its share of surprises.
Milton is currently on track to be the worst storm to hit the Tampa Bay area in over a century. It was downgraded to a Category 4 storm early Tuesday, but forecasters said it still posed “an extremely serious threat to Florida.”
Former President Donald Trump has attacked the Biden-Harris administration’s response to Hurricane Helene, unfoundedly suggesting there isn’t money available due to FEMA spending on undocumented immigrants.
“They’re dying and they’re getting no help from our federal government because they have no money because their money has been spent on people that should not be in our country,” Trump said on Oct. 3.
“It’s been a terrible response from the White House. They’re missing a billion dollars that was used for another purpose,” the former president added on Oct. 4.
Vice President Kamala Harris labeled Trump “incredibly irresponsible” on Monday, while President Joe Biden said the Republican nominee was “lying” about the White House’s response.
Once considered a political-free zone, disaster relief has become fair game for campaign point scoring.
The Harris campaign is seeking to take advantage by putting out attack ads against Trump for his response to California wildfires while he was in office.
During the video, former Trump staffers allege he would not initially send relief given it was a democratic state. These claims have been denied by the Trump campaign.
This election cycle has been historic for many reasons, and the responses from both campaigns post-Helene highlight another unprecedented turn.