Another Biden gaffe? US president appears momentarily confused when asked about storm zone

US President Joe Biden appeared momentarily confused when asked about the needs of states affected by Hurricane Helene during his visit to the storm-hit region. When questioned by a reporter about the storm zone, Biden responded, "Oh, storm zone? I don't know which storm you’re talking about, they are getting what they need, and they are very happy across the board."

Biden's remarks came as he toured areas severely impacted by Hurricane Helene, which has left more than 210 people confirmed dead, making it the second-deadliest storm to strike the US mainland in over 50 years. The President’s visit to the southeastern states marked his second consecutive day meeting with residents in the wake of the disaster, which has disrupted millions of lives.


Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across multiple states, flooding towns, damaging infrastructure, and leaving communities reeling from the destruction. Roads remain blocked, power outages are widespread, and water services have been disrupted. Many areas are facing a long and difficult recovery.

Official figures confirm at least 212 fatalities across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia. North Carolina, in particular, has seen more than half of these deaths as it struggles with an unprecedented flood disaster described as "post-apocalyptic."

"I see you, I hear you, I grieve with you — and I promise you, we have your back," Biden assured residents during his visit to Ray City, Georgia, where he surveyed damage at a local pecan farm.

Biden visited Florida’s Gulf Coast, where Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of up to 140 miles per hour. He toured the devastation, walking through the ruins of destroyed homes in Keaton Beach. "Homes were just wiped away, just an entire island gone," he said after the visit, vowing continued federal aid for those affected.

Despite the extensive response efforts, including thousands of federal workers and National Guard members assisting local authorities, the death toll is expected to rise as recovery operations continue.

During his tour of North Carolina, Biden addressed the link between climate change and the intensification of storms, stating that anyone denying the climate crisis "must be brain-dead."

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump criticised the administration's storm response, falsely claiming that federal funds had been depleted by spending on migrants, a statement widely discredited.