President Joe Biden is facing immense backlash after pledging $1 billion in humanitarian aid to Africans that droughts and food insecurity have displaced while residents in North Carolina are still struggling from the impact of Hurricane Helene. Many residents who lost everything in the flooding from the natural disaster are still trying to piece their lives back together, where they claim to receive little to no help from the government to which they pay taxes.
Recent reports have indicated that many in North Carolina have resorted to living in tents after their homes were destroyed by the flooding of Helene this fall. However, the White House moved last month to request an additional $98 billion in disaster relief funding to help the region where Congress has vowed to act once they receive the request from the Biden-Harris administration. Regardless, many Americans view the move to extend aid to Africa as placing greater importance on foreign nations over the U.S.
During a speech in Angola, Biden said, “The United States continues to be the world’s largest provider of humanitarian aid and development assistance. That’s going to increase, you know, that’s the right thing for the wealthiest nation in the world to do. Today I’m announcing over $1 billion in new humanitarian support for Africans displaced from homes by historic droughts and food insecurity.”
“We know African leaders and citizens are seeking more than just aid. You seek investment,” the president continued, outlining the efforts. “So, the United States is expanding our relationship all across Africa from assistance to aid, investment to trade, moving from patrons to partners to help bridge the infrastructure gap.”
The seeming disinterest from the Biden-Harris administration toward helping American citizens reeling from the impact of the natural disaster has sparked backlash on social media. Citizen Free Press wrote on X, “DEMOCRATS HAVE ZERO SELF AWARENESS. Biden announces $1 billion gift to Africa to help the homeless displaced by non-existent climate change. 1) This is simply a grift that enriches NGOs. 2) Helene victims are currently homeless in North Carolina.”
Another person wrote, “We the people are going to have to help our fellow Americans because the government won’t and they are ineffective. Actually the government shouldn’t as they have shown themselves to not be wise stewards of the money they take from us. Please give or help @TheShawnHendrix and @SamaritansPurse. They are both doing great things in Western NC.”
Echoing this sentiment, another person said, “This is beyond disgusting. Americans are homeless in many fronts and this grifter is bleeding taxpayers by giving money to African homeless? How about demanding African countries actually reform and fix their own problems?” Similarly, one user wrote, “The last (or one of the last) grift. Encouraging to see so many posts from people that understand what this & all foreign aid is really about. It enriches friendly NGO’s & the pols & bureaucrats that support it while doing little to actually help anyone in Africa.”
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