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Disaster Relief Funding Is Creeping Into Trump's Midterm Rhetoric. Critics Say It Has No Place There

Trump has paired disaster aid announcements with support for Republican candidates, drawing criticism after approving requests for states while 15 others remain pending.

  • President Donald Trump has linked federal disaster relief to midterm campaign endorsements, approving funding in key states while 15 requests from other territories remain pending.
  • Trump approved an Ohio disaster declaration last Saturday after discussions with Republican Senator Jon Husted, then pledged about $17.9 million to Wisconsin following a call with Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany.
  • During a North Carolina rally for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley, Trump joked about withholding Hurricane Helene recovery funds if Whatley lost, then immediately added, "I'm only kidding, you're getting it."
  • Former FEMA spokesperson Rafael LeMaitre, who served under President Barack Obama, called the perceived link between relief and votes "out of bounds" and warned it erodes public trust in disaster management.
  • FEMA faces ongoing scrutiny after a September news release listed 18 Republican members of Congress as partners while omitting Democrats, a decision agency leadership declined to explain.
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Disaster relief funding is creeping into Trump's midterm rhetoric. Critics say it has no place there

President Trump has made disaster relief a campaign issue ahead of the midterms, approving declarations in key states and pairing funding announcements with endorsements.

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WGBA broke the news on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
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