CNN's chief fact-checker had his work cut out for him Friday following President Donald Trump's visit to North Carolina and California as he tours areas devastated by natural disasters.
In the Los Angeles area, fires have scorched about 45 square miles. At least 28 people have died. Meanwhile, Hurricane Helene's damage in North Carolina has been estimated at $59.6 billion. At least 104 people died.
On Friday, Trump said he planned to sign an executive order to "begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA — or maybe getting rid of FEMA."
Trump criticized the disaster agency for being too slow and bureaucratic. He has floated letting states handle disasters.
After his speech, CNN's Daniel Dale acknowledged Trump is "totally entitled" to criticize FEMA, and even conceded he's delivered "accurate criticism" of FEMA.
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"But he's also said a lot of things about FEMA and the general federal response to Helene that are just wrong," said Dale.
Dale took particular issue with Trump's claims that he said could "dissuade" Americans in need of federal disaster assistance from applying.
"For instance, Trump said this month FEMA is out of money. If you're thinking of applying for FEMA aid, please know that is not even close to true," he said.
FEMA had $27 billion in its disaster relief coffers as of Jan. 8, Dale noted.
"Similarly, the president has said FEMA has no money for North Carolina because it took all that money and gave it to illegal immigrants," said Dale. "That did not happen."
Congress gave FEMA tens of billions of dollars last year for disaster relief. Separately, it gave a "much smaller amount" — $650 million — to help state and local governments shelter undocumented migrants.
"It didn't divert money to shelter migrants — those are two separate pots of funds," said Dale.
Trump has also claimed that hurricane victims can only get $750 in federal aid. But that figure was only an initial emergency assistance for food water and other pressing needs.
"They can also apply for tens of thousands in additional federal assistance, including up to $42,500 each for home repairs," said Dale. "And Jake, I think this political claim is important as the president muses as you say about abolishing FEMA."
Trump has said FEMA hasn't helped North Carolina at all and has been completely absent. While it's true some mountain communities didn't see federal help for days and have faced slow housing assistance or inadequate, FEMA has "certainly been on the ground in the state," Dale said.
FEMA has doled out more than $316 million in cash in addition to another $300 million given to governments for infrastructure repairs and debris cleanup.
"I'm not up here saying FEMA or the Biden administration was perfect responding to this storm or anything else, and some of what President Trump claimed did prove to have a valid basis," said Dale, calling out Trump's claim the agency has political bias. "It later emerged at least one Florida FEMA employee had directed relief teams not to approach homes with pro-Trump signs, and then told CNN that skipping those homes is part of FEMA's avoidance and de-escalation guidance."
Regardless, Dale concluded, despite that valid claim, "he's gotten a lot of other stuff wrong on the subject of FEMA and federal assistance."
Watch the clip below or at this link.
