Trump pairs disaster aid announcements with midterm endorsements
In short
President Donald Trump has paired disaster funding announcements and disaster declarations with endorsements of Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections, the Associated Press reported. On Wednesday he endorsed Rep. Tom Tiffany for Wisconsin governor while pledging millions for recent storms, and the day before an Ohio rally with Sen. Jon Husted he approved a disaster declaration for Ohio while leaving 15 other requests pending. The White House said there is no politicization of the president's disaster relief decisions.
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President Donald Trump has turned emergency relief into a campaign talking point in the final stretch before the midterm elections, the Associated Press reported, approving disaster declarations in consequential states and coupling endorsements with funding announcements. With a major hurricane heading toward the U.S. Gulf Coast, the moves have revived questions about whether the administration is politicizing disaster recovery, the report said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The latest example came on Wednesday, when Trump voiced support for Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin's governor race while pledging millions to help with recent storms. Trump posted that he had spoken to Tiffany, "who has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Governor of the Great State of Wisconsin," and had told him about $17.9 million; the available text ends at that point. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Trump also recently joked that he would cut off money to North Carolina, which is still recovering from Hurricane Helene two years ago, if Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley lost. The day before an Ohio campaign rally with Sen. Jon Husted last Saturday, Trump approved a disaster declaration for the state while leaving 15 other requests pending. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the report, Trump has often mentioned disaster support in social media posts about the midterms, sometimes announcing new funding alongside reminders of his endorsements of Republican candidates such as Ashley Hinson in Iowa and Andy Barr in Kentucky. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Disaster survivor advocates said they want elected officials to prioritize their recovery rather than use it as a political tool. "Recovery isn't partisan," said Sierra Lindsey-Kos, co-founder and co-executive director of the advocacy nonprofit Extreme Weather Survivors. "Neighbors help each other without asking who anyone voted for, and that's exactly the way it should be," she said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The White House rejected the idea that it is bringing politics into disaster recovery. "There is no politicization to the president's decisions on disaster relief," spokesperson Lauren Bis said on Tuesday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The reports have revived questions about whether the administration is politicizing disaster recovery, as a major hurricane heads toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. Disaster survivor advocates say they want officials to put recovery ahead of politics.
Key facts
- Trump has approved disaster declarations in consequential states and coupled endorsements with funding announcements in the run-up to the midterm elections, the AP reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- On Wednesday Trump voiced support for Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin's governor race while pledging millions to help with recent storms. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Trump recently joked that he would cut off money to North Carolina if Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley lost. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The day before an Ohio campaign rally with Sen. Jon Husted, Trump approved a disaster declaration for Ohio while leaving 15 other requests pending. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Trump's social media posts have announced new funding alongside reminders of endorsements for Republican candidates such as Ashley Hinson in Iowa and Andy Barr in Kentucky. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- White House spokesperson Lauren Bis said: "There is no politicization to the president's decisions on disaster relief." [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- A major hurricane is heading toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Trump endorsed Rep. Tom Tiffany for Wisconsin governor on Wednesday while pledging millions for recent storms. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Trump approved a disaster declaration for Ohio the day before a campaign rally with Sen. Jon Husted, leaving 15 other requests pending. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Trump joked about cutting off money to North Carolina if Michael Whatley lost his Senate race. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The White House denied that politics plays a role in the president's disaster relief decisions. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- What the $17.9 million Trump said he told Tiffany about is for. The available article text is cut off right after the figure.
- Whether the administration is politicizing disaster recovery. Advocates raise the concern, while the White House rejects it.
- Which states made the 15 other disaster requests left pending. The documents do not name them.