### Trump Falsely Claims Georgia's Governor Unable to Reach Biden, Despite Evidence to the Contrary

In a statement over the weekend, former President Donald Trump inaccurately asserted that Georgia Governor Brian Kemp had been unable to contact President Joe Biden to discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Speaking from a furniture store in Valdosta, Georgia, Trump stated, "He has been calling the president, but has not been able to get him."

Contrary to Trump's claim, Governor Kemp, a Republican, clarified earlier the same day that he had indeed connected with President Biden. Kemp explained that after initially missing Biden's call, he returned it and the two officials had a conversation on Sunday evening. During their conversation, Biden asked Kemp what resources were needed, to which Kemp responded that Georgia had what it required and was working through federal processes. Kemp noted that Biden offered further assistance if needed and that he had been "playing phone tag" with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Hurricane Helene made landfall last Thursday night in the Florida panhandle and proceeded to wreak havoc in Georgia, resulting in over 500,000 people losing power. The storm continued its destructive path northwards, causing severe flooding in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. The death toll stands at 116 across six states, with North Carolina reporting the highest number of fatalities. The situation remains dire as rescue and recovery operations are ongoing.

Despite acknowledging the storm's devastation just weeks before a significant presidential election, Trump claimed he was not focused on politics. "At a time like this, when a crisis hits, when our fellow citizens cry out in need, none of that matters," he remarked. Nevertheless, Trump has actively used social media to criticize Harris, mocking a recent post she made while being briefed by FEMA. He accused the image of being staged and questioned her competence.

The suggestion that Democratic governors, including North Carolina's Roy Cooper, are neglecting Republican areas also drew criticism. When questioned about this after his Valdosta appearance, Trump offered no additional comments but did highlight federal aid efforts, including securing trailers for affected regions. He also mentioned speaking with Elon Musk about deploying SpaceX's Starlink devices to restore communication.

Local leaders had mixed reactions to Trump's visit. Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson appreciated the attention and aid but wished Trump had delayed his visit to allow emergency operations to progress. Matheson praised both Trump and Biden for their offers of support and emphasized the constructive nature of his conversation with Biden.

State Representative John LaHood welcomed Trump's visit, asserting that it would draw attention to the severity of the crisis, even if the visit temporarily diverted resources from emergency efforts. He noted that he had not yet been contacted by Biden or Harris but expressed no opposition to their potential visits.

President Biden and Vice President Harris have committed to visiting the affected areas once they can do so without impeding emergency response activities.