Donald Trump amplifies bizarre conspiracy theory about Kamala Harris' response to Hurricane Helene
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Donald Trump has reignited controversy by sharing a conspiracy theory questioning Vice President Kamala Harris' response to Hurricane Helene.
The former president took to Truth Social on Monday, September 30, to criticize a recent photo shared by Harris, suggesting that the image was "staged."
Donald Trump's accusations about Kamala Harris
In his post, Donald Trump questioned whether Kamala Harris had actually been briefed on the catastrophic storm, which has devastated several southern states, killing over 100 people.
The 78-year-old politician pointed to the photo shared by Harris, claiming that her headphones were not plugged into her phone, casting doubt on whether she was genuinely participating in a call, according to Raw Story.
"Another FAKE and STAGED photo from someone who has no clue what she is doing," wrote Trump.
"You have to plug the cord into the phone for it to work! Biden and Harris abandoned Americans in Afghanistan," he continued.
"They sacrificed Americans to an Open Border, and now, they have left Americans to drown in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and elsewhere in the South," Trump added.
Criticizing Joe Biden's administration, he wrote, "Under this Administration, Americans always come last, because we have 'leaders' who have no idea how to lead!"
Origins of Kamala Harris' photo conspiracy
The questions regarding the authenticity of Kamala Harris' photo appeared to have originated on right-wing social media.
The conspiracy theory then quickly gained traction, making its way to The Gateway Pundit website.
From there, it was picked up by the Republican presidential nominee and shared with his large audience on Truth Social.
Kamala Harris' response to Hurricane Helene
In a post on X, Kamala Harris shared that FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell had briefed her on the latest developments regarding Hurricane Helene.
She also spoke with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to discuss ongoing rescue and recovery operations in the state.
"I was just briefed by @FEMA_Deanne Criswell on the latest developments about the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene," stated Harris.
"We also discussed our Administration's continued actions to support emergency response and recovery. I also spoke with @NC_Governor Cooper about the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts in North Carolina," read the post.
I was just briefed by @FEMA_Deanne Criswell on the latest developments about the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene. We also discussed our Administration's continued actions to support emergency response and recovery.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 30, 2024
I also spoke with @NC_Governor Cooper about the ongoing… pic.twitter.com/nlZPB0h3mO
The Vice President concluded the post by affirming the administration's commitment to staying in "constant contact" with state and local officials to ensure that affected communities receive the necessary support.