Vice President Kamala Harris is facing intense backlash after accusations surfaced that she staged a photo op with disaster relief supplies meant for Hurricane Helene victims, which were never sent. Members of the humanitarian rescue group, Aerial Recovery, shared these claims during an interview with former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan on his podcast, alleging that Harris used the aid as a political prop rather than a means to help those affected by the storm.
Aerial Recovery, composed of veterans and first responders, has been actively assisting in the relief efforts following Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of North Carolina. The group’s volunteers, Jonathan Howard and Charlie Keebaugh, have been on the ground providing much-needed assistance to the storm victims. During their interview with Ryan, they revealed disturbing details that have raised serious concerns about Harris’ involvement in the recovery efforts.
Howard explained that a source within the North Carolina National Guard informed him that Harris ordered the loading of a C-17 cargo plane with disaster supplies specifically for a photo op. The supplies, according to Howard, were never intended to be delivered to those in need. This claim has sparked outrage among critics who accuse the vice president of exploiting the disaster for political gain.
During the interview, Howard recounted the story, stating that after a video of Harris surfaced, he began receiving messages from military personnel who confirmed the alleged staged event. “I had a squadron commander from North Carolina reach out to me,” Howard said. “They had to load a C-17 full of supplies just to take a photo op for Kamala. And they never sent the bird. They loaded an entire C-17 full of supplies for the hurricane victims just for Kamala to go there… That was a North Carolina National Guard unit 06 that reached out to me. They did a photo op with the intention of never sending aid.”
🚨BREAKING: Kamala Harris ordered the North Carolina National Guard to load disaster relief supplies onto a cargo plane just for a photo op with the intention of NEVER sending the supplies to storm victims
This disqualifies her from running for office pic.twitter.com/RZnKnKeZ6u
— Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) October 10, 2024
This revelation has fueled growing criticism of the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the recovery efforts in North Carolina, particularly from those in the hardest-hit rural areas. Many of these communities predominantly oppose the administration, and there is increasing frustration over what is seen as neglect toward American citizens in favor of other priorities.
The administration had already come under fire for providing $750 checks to hurricane victims, a sum seen by many as insufficient, while billions in FEMA funds were reportedly redirected to other areas, including aid for illegal immigrants. These decisions, combined with the latest allegations, have created a firestorm of controversy and led to accusations that the administration is failing to prioritize Americans in need.
In response to the hurricane, the Biden-Harris administration has sought additional funding for FEMA, but critics argue that the agency could be scapegoated if the relief efforts fall short. There are concerns that the federal response is being mismanaged and that disaster victims are not receiving the full support they need during this critical time.
The Aerial Recovery volunteers were particularly disturbed by what they perceived as a disconnect between the administration’s actions and the needs of the storm victims. They emphasized that their mission was to provide real assistance on the ground, while they accused Harris of using the crisis for political optics.
As news of the alleged photo op spread, social media was ablaze with reactions from both sides of the political spectrum. Supporters of Harris and the administration have dismissed the allegations as unverified, while critics have called for further investigation into the claims.
One of the most vocal responses came from the conservative commentator duo, the Hodgetwins, who shared the story on X (formerly Twitter). They posted: “Kamala Harris ordered the North Carolina National Guard to load disaster relief supplies onto a cargo plane just for a photo op with the intention of NEVER sending the supplies to storm victims. This disqualifies her from running for office.” Their post quickly went viral, further fueling the public outrage.
As the recovery efforts continue in North Carolina, these allegations are likely to intensify scrutiny of the administration’s handling of the crisis. Many are now questioning the federal government’s role in disaster response and whether the aid efforts have been compromised by political maneuvering.
For Harris, who is already facing challenges in her bid for the presidency, this controversy could prove damaging. With the election on the horizon, the vice president will need to address these claims head-on to prevent further erosion of trust among voters, particularly in key battleground states affected by the storm.
In the meantime, Aerial Recovery and other volunteer groups continue their work on the ground, providing much-needed relief to the communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. As the recovery process moves forward, the question remains whether the federal response will meet the expectations of those most affected.
