When Misinformation and Rhetoric Have Adverse Consequences
[guest post by Dana]
Just how much of an impact is the misinformation being disseminated by Donald Trump and other Republicans having on the ground in post-hurricane areas? Well, it’s having enough of an impact to compel FEMA instruct all federal responders to evaucate a region in need:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it made “operational adjustments” in North Carolina over the weekend and temporarily paused aid in parts of the state amid concerns that an armed militia is threatening government workers.
The Washington Post reported that FEMA had advised federal responders in Rutherford County to “stand down and evacuate the county immediately” on Saturday, citing an email from an official with the U.S. Forest Service, which is supporting recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
The email said National Guard troops had encountered trucks of “armed militia saying they were out hunting FEMA.”
A “armed militia hunting workers”??? This is abhorrent. Residents bought into the lies being told them by someone who only cares about their vote. And that man is cunning enough to understand how to play on the vulnerabilities of people in distress, as well as fanning the flames of their anger. Of course it’s the agency that seeks to help that is the target of that frustration.
That the misinformation was countered by FEMA with actual facts did not matter to Trump. It didn’t matter because, as we already know, Trump doesn’t care about anyone but himself. The safety and welfare of hurricane victims does little more than provide Trump with a means to an end:
Though Trump’s Thursday claim about FEMA money and migrants had already been debunked by Friday, Trump repeated the claim to reporters at least twice on Friday — and then said it again at a Friday night town hall event in North Carolina.
Trump, who is desperate to become our next president, in no way met the moment after the two natural disasters wreaked their havoc. All he did was to foment anger and frustration and instill a paranoia in the victims. He could have disseminated correct information from the get-go. He could have encouraged people to seek help. He could have explained where and how FEMA would be helping. But instead of painting the distributors of aid as good guys, he chose to paint a negative and untruthful picture of them.
And some of you still want to vote for this guy. . .
—Dana