Trump Jokes About Withholding $2 Billion in FEMA Aid if Whatley Loses North Carolina Race
Updated
Updated · WLOS · Sep 17
Trump Jokes About Withholding $2 Billion in FEMA Aid if Whatley Loses North Carolina Race
3 articles · Updated · WLOS · Sep 17
Summary
At a Gastonia rally for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley, Trump said he would not send additional FEMA money to western North Carolina if Whatley loses, then added, “I’m only kidding.”
Trump framed the remark around disaster aid, saying FEMA has already provided more than $2 billion to the state and promising to secure more funding for a region still recovering nearly two years after a major storm.
Gov. Josh Stein condemned the comment on X, calling it an unacceptable response to a tragic disaster and an improper way to campaign or govern.
The remark landed in a competitive Senate race where Democrat Roy Cooper led Whatley by 11 points in a Sept. 10 Elon University poll, 49% to 38%.
It also follows reports that Trump denied $227 million in disaster funding requests from four Democratic-led states: New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.