White House reporters ask zero questions about Hurricane Helene in surprise opportunity to press Biden

Reporters had a unsocial accidental to question President Biden erstwhile helium made a surprise appearance astatine the White House property briefing connected Friday, but didn't inquire astir the historical catastrophe unfolding successful the Southeast successful the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

It was the archetypal clip that Biden appeared astatine a White House property briefing since taking office. The president spoke concisely astir the suspended larboard workers onslaught and Friday's affirmative jobs numbers, and helium announced that helium whitethorn petition further wealth from Congress to money Hurricane Helene alleviation efforts. But determination was nary follow-up from the property connected hurricane relief.

After thanking the president for his presence, the archetypal newsman asked astir Republicans casting uncertainty connected his economical numbers, saying, "Florida Sen. Marco Rubio described today's jobs study arsenic having fake numbers. What bash you marque of that? And however disquieted are you that galore Americans are proceeding that the jobs numbers aren't real?"

TRUMP TARGETS BIDEN, HARRIS OVER FEDERAL RESPONSE TO HURRICANE: ‘INCOMPETENTLY MANAGED’

US President Joe Biden speaks during the regular property briefing astatine the White House successful Washington, DC, connected October 4, 2024.  (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

The situation successful the Middle East was the biggest topic, with questions astir Biden's comments astir strikes connected Iranian lipid facilities, Israeli plans to retaliate, imaginable U.S. sanctions, and worries astir Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu trying to power the U.S. election.

Election information and the peaceful transportation of powerfulness were besides apical of caput for reporters.

"The predetermination is simply a period away. One, I'd similar to cognize however you're feeling astir however this predetermination is going. And past also, bash you person assurance that it volition beryllium a escaped and just predetermination and that it volition beryllium peaceful?" 1 newsman asked. "Are you making immoderate preparations, getting information briefings related to home security?"

The lone notation of Hurricane Helene, with a decease toll topping 230, was successful a question astir Vice President Kamala Harris' relation successful the administration.

"There person evidently been a fig of crises that the state has been facing implicit the past respective days with the hurricane, with the larboard strike, with the concern successful the Middle East. Can you speech astir however your vice president, who is moving for the presidency, has worked connected these crises and what relation she has played implicit the past respective days?" a newsman asked.

BIDEN GETS DEFENSIVE WHEN PUSHED ON WHO'S ‘COMMANDING’ HURRICANE HELENE RESPONSE

The remnants of a location are seen successful Lake Lure, North Carolina, October 2, 2024, aft the transition of Hurricane Helene.  (ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)

The Biden-Harris medication has travel nether occurrence from erstwhile President Trump for the national effect to the devastation near by Helene, already 1 of the deadliest hurricanes this century.

The White House has pushed backmost hard against these criticisms, emphasizing that Biden has coordinated the national response, including approving exigency declarations and deploying 1,000 active-duty soldiers to enactment search-and-rescue efforts. More than 4,800 unit from FEMA and different agencies person been deployed to North Carolina and neighboring states impacted by Helene. Additionally, FEMA has shipped implicit 8.5 cardinal meals, much than 7 cardinal liters of water, 150 generators and implicit 220,000 tarps to assistance effect efforts, according to the White House.

As of Friday, the national authorities has provided much than $45 cardinal successful Individual assistance to survivors affected by the storm, White House property caput Karine Jean-Pierre said, including successful the signifier of one-time $750 payments from FEMA to qualified applicants successful Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. 

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Fox News' Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.