President Biden dismissed criticism over his absence from Washington during Hurricane Helene, which left over 100 dead and millions without power, food, and water, saying, "I command. It’s called a telephone."
On Monday, President Joe Biden gave a snarky response to a reporter questioning why he and Vice President Kamala Harris were not physically in Washington overseeing the federal government’s response to Hurricane Helene. The storm, which ravaged the southeastern U.S. over the weekend, left over 100 people dead and millions without power, food, and water.
During a press briefing, a reporter asked Biden, “On the hurricane, Mr. President, why weren’t you and Vice President Harris here in Washington commanding this this weekend?” Biden snapped back, “I was commanding, I was on the phone for at least two hours yesterday and the day before as well. I command. It’s called a telephone.”
Biden had spent the weekend at his beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, before returning to Washington on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, Vice President Harris was on the West Coast attending fundraisers in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.
The president’s response has drawn sharp criticism, particularly as many communities in the storm’s path are still struggling with recovery efforts. The massive storm has left survivors facing severe shortages of essential resources, raising questions about the administration’s visible presence and leadership during the crisis.
.png)