Vice President Kamala Harris criticised Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for his attacks on the federal response to hurricanes Helene and Milton and suggested he was wrongly trying to turn the deadly storms to his political advantage.

Attending a town hall sponsored by Univision in Las Vegas, Harris was asked about complaints that federal officials have bungled disaster recovery efforts. She responded, “in this crisis – like in so many issues that affect the people of our country – I think it so important that leadership recognises the dignity” to which people are entitled.

“I have to stress that this is not a time for people to play politics,” Harris added.

Those comments came after Trump spoke at the Detroit Economic Club, offering sympathy to people affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton, the latter of which came ashore in Florida on Wednesday night local time.

He praised the Republican governors of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina but suggested the federal response had been lacking, particularly in North Carolina, where he alleged the government after Helene had “not done what you’re supposed to be doing”.

“They’ve let those people suffer unjustly,” said Trump, who has for several days promoted falsehoods about the response of President Joe Biden and emergency management officials.

Earlier today Biden hit out at Trump for spreading misinformation about the federal government’s hurricane response efforts, declaring, “get a life, man”.

Addressing reporters on Thursday local time about Hurricane Milton’s destruction, Biden said he would not call Trump directly. But asked what his message would be for Trump, Biden squared his shoulders and faced the camera more directly.

“Mr president Trump, former president Trump, get a life, man,” Biden said. “Help these people.”

On Wednesday, Biden seized on a social media post by Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia congresswoman, who suggested the federal government controlled the weather, calling the comment “bizarre”.

AP