VIDEO: Trump and Harris take different approach as Helene in eye of campaign storm

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From Fox News: As the death toll and devastation from Hurricane Helene soars in the southeast, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will be briefed by officials on Monday, as the destructive storm is smack in the middle of the White House race with just over five weeks until Election Day.

Trump will make a stop in Valdosta, Georgia, to receive a briefing on the devastation, assist with relief distribution and “deliver remarks to the press,” according to his campaign.

Harris headed back to Washington, D.C., on Monday morning, cutting short a western campaign swing. The White House said the vice president would travel to Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters once she arrives in the nation’s capital, where she will be briefed on the impact of the hurricane and the federal response to support rescue and recovery efforts.

Over 120 people have been killed by Helene since the hurricane made landfall in Florida late Thursday before tearing a path of destruction through the interior Southeast. The storm sparked millions of power outages and billions of dollars in property damage as it smashed through the southern Appalachian Mountains and into the Tennessee Valley.

Among the hardest hit states were North Carolina and Georgia, two of the seven key battlegrounds whose razor-thin margins decided President Biden’s 2020 election victory over Trump and are expected to determine the outcome of the 2024 showdown between Harris and Trump.

Monday morning, Trump released the following statement on Truth Social:

“We are now heading to Valdosta, Georgia, in order to pay my respects and bring lots of relief material, including fuel, equipment, water, and other things, to the State. Many politicians and Law Enforcement will be there. We’ll be saying hello to Franklin Graham, Burt Jones, Tyler Harper, Mike Collins, Austin Scott, Russ Goodman, Sam Watson, and the Mayor of Valdosta Scott James. They are working very hard.

“I was also going to stop into North Carolina, which has really been hit hard. I have a lot of supplies ready for them, but access and communication is now restricted, and we want to make sure that Local Emergency Management is able to focus on helping the people most affected, and not being concerned with me. I’ll be there shortly, but don’t like the reports that I’m getting about the Federal Government, and the Democrat Governor of the State, going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas. MAGA!”

Trump’s national press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a video and wrote, “President Trump tours damage from Hurricane Helene in Valdosta, Georgia and shakes hands with the amazing volunteers from Samaritans Purse!”

Trump was welcomed to Georgia by a cheering crowd of supporters.

Trump spoke to the media as he arrived in Georgia, alongside evangelical leader Franklin Graham:

At a press briefing, Trump asked for a moment of silence to remember those killed by Hurricane Helene.

“We came down with truckloads of different items, from oil to water. We’re here today to stand with complete solidarity with the people of Georgia and all those suffering in the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” Trump announced.

Trump announced that he has spoken to Elon Musk about getting Starlink set up for the hurricane victims who have lost communication.

“As you know, our country is in the final weeks of a hard fought national election. But in a time like this when a crisis hits, when our fellow citizens cry out in need, none of that matters. We’re not talking about politics now. We have to all get together and get this solved,” Trump said.

“In our hearts, God is strongly with us and the American people are stronger than any challenge that stands in our way. Working together, we will overcome these hardships, we will endure, and we will rebuild Valdosta. We will emerge stronger, more united, and more prosperous than ever before,” Trump said.

Trup was seen visiting with the owners a furniture store destroyed by the hurricane.

On Sunday, Harris posted a photo of herself from aboard a plane and wrote:

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.

I also spoke with @NC_Governor Cooper about the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts in North Carolina.

Our Administration will continue to stay in constant contact with state and local officials to ensure communities have the support and resources they need.

Doug and my thoughts are with all those who lost loved ones and those whose homes, businesses, and communities were damaged or destroyed during this disaster.

Below is a video of Trump’s full speech in Valdosta Monday afternoon:

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