Trump Turns His Back on His Own Voters
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Washington, D.C. — After a series of deadly extreme weather events this year, Donald Trump denied disaster aid to states that overwhelmingly voted for him and were devastated by tornadoes and flooding. Trump has gutted federal disaster relief, shifted the responsibility of disaster preparations to states and local communities, and cut critical staff responsible for preparing for and responding to disasters.
Climate Power communications director Alex Glass issued the following statement:
“Throughout his first term, Trump politicized disaster relief and withheld aid from communities that he thought didn’t vote for him. But now, he is betraying his own voters as he denies aid to people whose homes and communities have been devastated by storms. As we approach hurricane season and increased severe weather, Trump has shown how he will respond – abandoning disaster survivors to pick up the pieces on their own.”
Trump is denying disaster relief to states that voted for him:
- After deadly flooding hit Kentucky in February, Trump denied federal disaster relief to eight counties across the state.
- After a series of severe storms and tornadoes killed more than 40 people in March, Trump denied aid to tornado survivors in Arkansas after Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders begged for relief.
- Trump has gutted disaster relief, cutting roughly 20% of the staff responsible for preventing and responding to disasters.
- Trump has not visited any of the communities in Kentucky, Arkansas, or the other Southern and Midwestern states that have been impacted by tornadoes, flooding, and severe storms this year.