WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump shifted focus to politics surrounding disaster relief on Monday as he made his way to Georgia, a key electoral state, to assess the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.

While in the heavily impacted Valdosta area of Georgia, Trump refrained from openly criticizing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during his visit. He claimed to reporters, “we’re not discussing politics right now,” yet he did voice disapproval of Biden and Harris’ handling of the hurricane response prior to his arrival.

In a post on his Truth Social platform that day, Trump ridiculed a statement and photo shared by Harris regarding a hurricane briefing. He also commented about his upcoming visit to Valdosta, expressing concern about reports he had received regarding the federal government’s action.

Officials from the administration indicated that it isn’t suitable for Harris or Biden to visit at this time since local officials are still analyzing the damage and working to save lives.

While he was in Valdosta, Trump declared, “we do need some help from the federal government.” He falsely claimed that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican who skipped the event, was trying to contact Biden for relief but had been unable to reach him.

The White House quickly corrected Trump, noting that Biden and Kemp had, in fact, spoken.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates shared on X that Kemp himself mentioned on Monday, “the President just called me yesterday afternoon.” Kemp further noted that Biden asked him, “hey, what do you need?” and offered that Kemp could call him directly if further assistance was necessary, adding, “I appreciate that.”

Trump claimed to have brought truckloads of supplies to Georgia, including fuel, water, and equipment to assist with recovery efforts. He aimed to uplift the residents affected by the Category 4 storm, which resulted in at least 100 fatalities and left over 2 million homes and businesses without power.

Trump remarked that he told the owners of a local store that was destroyed by the hurricane, “I would have bought some furniture if you had any in there.”

“It’s a time of need,” he told supporters in Georgia. “You are in our prayers.” He further stated, “We all need to come together to solve this issue.”

However, during a speech he gave in Erie, Pennsylvania, Trump criticized Biden for “sleeping” in Delaware while Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in the South.

Trump’s campaign added the Valdosta trip to his schedule on the Sunday preceding the visit, announcing that he would receive a briefing on the hurricane’s destruction, distribute relief supplies, and make statements to the press.

Trump and his team have already started to critique the Biden administration’s response efforts, particularly pointing out the absence of visits from either Biden or Harris, even as ground officials are in the early stages of damage assessment. Administration representatives have explained that both Harris and Biden aim to avoid distracting police and emergency responders with the need for added security while they are just beginning recovery operations.

“The Vice President plans to visit the impacted areas when it’s feasible without disturbing emergency response efforts,” stated a government announcement.

Some detractors criticized Trump for allegedly hindering local response efforts.

In another critical post on Truth Social, Trump mentioned his desire to visit hard-hit North Carolina, also a battleground state, but stated that “access and communication is now restricted, as we want to ensure that Local Emergency Management can prioritize helping the most affected individuals.”