Outrage as Trump declines to condemn threats to FEMA workers while spreading dangerous misinformation

SWANNANOA, NORTH CAROLINA: GOP nominee Donald Trump railed against the federal emergency responders at the onset of his day-long tour to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina on Monday, October 21.

According to The Daily Beast, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently halted its recovery effort in the area after receiving multiple threatening messages and being targeted by militias. A local armed with an assault rifle was arrested on October 12 for allegedly threatening FEMA workers.

Donald Trump's defense of people threatening FEMA workers

The former president claimed that those threatening and criticizing FEMA were "honest people," while he continued to push hurricane misinformation.

False claims made by Trump and other GOP members include the US government influencing the weather, and withholding crucial aid to allocate more of the budget to assist immigrants.

"I think you have to let people know how they’re doing," Trump told a reporter. "If they were doing a great job, I think we should say that too because I think they should be rewarded. If they’re doing a poor job, we’re supposed to not say it?”

"These people are entitled to say it, and these are honest people behind us," he continued. "For the most part, they're not political people. But you've seen nothing but very bad statements coming out about the job that FEMA and this administration has done."

Internet rips Trump for 'inciting threats and violence'

Netizens reacting to Trump's statement across social media platforms slammed him for his take. Those commenting on Facebook found his remarks on-brand for MAGA, as the following examples suggest.

"I don’t believe that Trump actually knows honest people. If I’m not mistaken, most of the folks that he’s around are crooked just like he is," wrote a person.

"This is hardly surprising given that he's defending the right to jail his political 'enemies' too," quipped another.

"It sounds preposterous, but remember this is the level of desperation and dementedness he has reached," warned a third.

"He is such a national embarrassment. The world is looking at us like WTF," noted a fourth.

On X (formerly Twitter), a user reacted to the news with, "Jesus Christ on a cracker. How horrible can one man be?"

"There is nothing Trump says that MAGA-Republicans won't believe – nor is there anything they won't do if he tells them to," shared another.

"One of the few things Trump is good at is inciting threats and violence," jibed a third.

"He's tearing everything down. Everything," stated yet another.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.