Things went a little bit sideways on Thursday when President Joe Biden spoke to reporters about recovery efforts in the aftermath of two hurricanes that hit Florida in the past two weeks — first Helene, which also cut a wide path of devastation across the southeastern United States, and then Milton.
Biden was taking questions from the press when AFP White House correspondent Danny Kemp asked for an update on hostilities between Israel and Lebanon — specifically whether Biden had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about what he planned to do next.
WATCH:
A little quip from Biden here….
AFP's @DannyCTKemp: "Mr. President, what did you — what did Prime minister Netanyahu tell you about his plans relating to retaliation against –"
BIden: "He's coming over to help with the storm." pic.twitter.com/dG6w0qkuCV
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 10, 2024
“Mr. President, what did you — what did Prime minister Netanyahu tell you about his plans relating to retaliation against —” Kemp asked.
Biden interrupted, replying, “He’s coming over to help with the storm.”
“Well that’s nice of him,” Daily Wire host Michael Knowles posted in response.
Well that's nice of him. https://t.co/L6JnWOCO37
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) October 10, 2024
“A recurrent Democrat talking point for years has been that Trump is embarrassing when it comes to international affairs. Here, Biden thought Israeli prime minister Netanyahu is a hurricane relief worker,” Max Abrahms added.
A recurrent Democrat talking point for years has been that Trump is embarrassing when it comes to international affairs. Here, Biden thought Israeli prime minister Netanyahu is a hurricane relief worker. https://t.co/yl9jlwhGNS
— Max Abrahms (@MaxAbrahms) October 10, 2024
During the same press conference, President Biden made a point — as Vice President Harris has — to promise that his administration would take action against anyone who engaged in price gouging or otherwise took advantage of the desperate people just trying to put their lives back together.
WATCH:
President Biden misleads viewers by saying he and Vice President Harris are on the lookout for price gouging in Florida, promising federal action.
Price gouging in Florida has already been a crime for decades. pic.twitter.com/vRFXQE9HvG
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 10, 2024
“Additionally, Vice President Harris and I — we said it yesterday, we’ll say it again — anyone who seeks to take advantage of our fellow Americans’ desperation — whether you’re a company engaging in price gouging or a citizen trying to scam your neighbors — we will go after you and we will hold you accountable,” he said.
What Biden did not mention was the fact that price gouging is already illegal in the state of Florida — and has been for some time.
Biden also used some of his time with the press to continue to push the narrative blaming former President Donald Trump for spreading “misinformation” about the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and funding that was designated to be used for the resettlement of illegal migrants.
Biden AGAIN making so-called misinformation the thesis of the news cycle on #Milton.
This is what you call a feedback loop, folks.
The press and the administration are making this a story when it's far less an issue than it actually is. pic.twitter.com/U1sx5OAZiz
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 10, 2024