Turning their backs on victims of Helene

Republicans who promised support are silent as the Trump administration denies requests for funds.

Back in January, just days after his inauguration, Donald Trump came to North Carolina and blasted Joe Biden’s response to Hurricane Helene. He promised that he would step up to provide support for the storm damaged region. Rep. Chuck Edwards, who represents the western-most part of the state, said of Trump, “He’s here to keep the promises that he made to us.”

But he didn’t. Governor Josh Stein asked Trump for a six month extension of the 100% match of FEMA funds for debris removal. Trump’s administration denied the request, saying that it “is not warranted.” Obviously, they haven’t been to western North Carolina lately.

The move is vintage Trump. He came into the state full of bravado. He made big promises, telling people what they wanted to hear, and then got distracted by something else. He won’t be back in western North Carolina anytime soon and he won’t think about the people of North Carolina until the next disaster.

Congressman Chuck Edwards has gone AWOL. He’s made no comment about Trump’s rejection of aid to the region. Same with Senator Thom Tillis. Governor Stein is the only official to publicly rebuke the administration for turning their backs on victims in western North Carolina.

Trump’s Helene response really epitomizes the cynicism of the administration and the Republican Party. He didn’t really care about the victims of the disaster. He used them as a political backdrop to bash Biden’s response to the hurricane. He gave people in desperate straits hope and then turned his back on them.

The Republicans who represent western North Carolina in Washington won’t criticize Trump because they are more concerned about drawing his wrath and than the well-being of their constituents. These are the same people who won’t call Trump out for selling pardons, hosting $5 million-a-plate dinners to line his pockets, or taking airplanes from foreign nations. They’ve embraced corruption while forsaking the people they represent.