A rake leaning against a tree in the middle of the forest.

Trump’s disaster relief policies could be shaped by partisan politics

Donald Trump’s history of politicizing disaster relief has sparked concerns that he may withhold aid from states led by political opponents during his upcoming term, particularly in light of his previous threats regarding California wildfires.

Aaron Blake reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

In past disasters, Trump has made inaccurate claims and blamed Democrats, including President Biden, for mismanagement.
Reports suggest Trump considered political loyalty when approving federal aid, such as with Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
Republican leaders have at times urged Trump to set aside partisan politics when responding to natural disasters.

Key quote:

“Trump absolutely didn’t want to give aid to California or Puerto Rico purely for partisan politics — because they didn’t vote for him.”

— Kevin Carroll, former senior counselor to former Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly

Why this matters:

Disaster relief decisions significantly impact vulnerable communities in crisis. If partisan considerations influence aid distribution, some regions may face delays in critical support during emergencies, exacerbating harm and deepening political divides.

www.washingtonpost.com

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