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Vice President Kamala Harris faced a wave of backlash over the weekend for touting the Biden-Harris administration’s plan to send money to Lebanon while Americans were still reeling from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene in the southeastern United States.
Even as the true breadth of the damage is still unknown — and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has revealed they don’t have enough funds to last through the remainder of hurricane season — Harris took to X to announce more than $150 million in aid for Lebanon.
“The people of Lebanon are facing an increasingly dire humanitarian situation. I am concerned about the security and well-being of civilians suffering in Lebanon and will continue working to help meet the needs of all civilians there,” she posted. “To that end, the United States will provide nearly $157 million in additional assistance to the people of Lebanon for essential needs such as food, shelter, water, protection, and sanitation to help those who have been displaced by the recent conflict. This additional support brings total U.S. assistance to Lebanon over the last year to over $385 million.”
The people of Lebanon are facing an increasingly dire humanitarian situation. I am concerned about the security and well-being of civilians suffering in Lebanon and will continue working to help meet the needs of all civilians there.
To that end, the United States will provide…
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) October 5, 2024
Critics pushed back, arguing that it was tone-deaf to send money out of the country when there were so many Americans still just trying to survive, much less put the pieces of their lives back together after losing everything.
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“This has to be fake. Even Kamala Harris, the gold standard of stupid, isn’t stupid enough to post this. Certainly not while North Carolinians are pulling the bodies of their neighbors from the wreckage. It’s simply inconceivable,” actor James Woods posted.
This has to be fake. Even Kamala Harris, the gold standard of stupid, isn’t stupid enough to post this. Certainly not while North Carolinians are pulling the bodies of their neighbors from the wreckage. It’s simply inconceivable. https://t.co/3RWcFtGqmG
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) October 6, 2024
“Please tell me there is a town called Lebanon, North Carolina?” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) added.
Please tell me there is a town called Lebanon, North Carolina? https://t.co/6QISAjVnXZ
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) October 6, 2024
Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) added, “Can’t make this stuff up. Americans are dead and devastated after the Hurricane. Waiting for relief. Kamala’s admin has depleted our FEMA funding to resettle illegal aliens in the country and she posts this …”
Can’t make this stuff up. Americans are dead and devastated after the Hurricane. Waiting for relief. Kamala’s admin has depleted our FEMA funding to resettle illegal aliens in the country and she posts this…. https://t.co/EcZyofb9VI
— Eli Crane (@EliCrane_CEO) October 6, 2024
“Yep. Her team actually posted this while hundreds are still missing or feared dead in Western North Carolina. This is rightfully the ratio to end all ratios. Amateur hour. Again,” Fox News contributor Joe Concha posted.
Yep. Her team actually posted this while hundreds are still missing or feared dead in Western North Carolina.
This is rightfully the ratio to end all ratios.
Amateur hour. Again. https://t.co/VyX2ORwnUy
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) October 6, 2024
“People say she has no political talent but it takes an enormous amount of political talent to be both anti-Israel and anti-hurricane survival victims in a single statement,” conservative pundit Stephen L. Miller said.
People say she has no political talent but it takes an enormous amount of political talent to be both anti-Israel and anti-hurricane survival victims in a single statement. https://t.co/awwkLkuaq9
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) October 6, 2024
Political consultant Noah Pollak added even more context, saying, “Lebanon is controlled by Iran and its terrorist group Hezbollah. When she brags about giving $385 million in US taxpayer money to “Lebanon,” what she means is she is giving $385M to Iran — on top of all the hundreds of billions Biden-Harris has given them already.”
Lebanon is controlled by Iran and its terrorist group Hezbollah. When she brags about giving $385 million in US taxpayer money to "Lebanon," what she means is she is giving $385M to Iran — on top of all the hundreds of billions Biden-Harris has given them already. https://t.co/Fs43WefGlq
— Noah Pollak (@NoahPollak) October 6, 2024
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