Biden ‘Photo Op’ Disrupted Helene Relief, Grounded Aircraft with Emergency Supplies: Rescue Mission Volunteer
Tim Kennedy, a former U.S. Army Green Beret and MMA fighter, has criticized President Joe Biden for his handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Kennedy pointed out that during Biden’s visit to the affected areas, rescue efforts were allegedly hindered to facilitate a photo opportunity, claiming that helicopters had to be grounded, which he deemed “unconscionable.”
Kennedy, who has a history of responding to crises, previously went to Afghanistan during the U.S. withdrawal in 2021 to assist those in need. Recently, he accompanied volunteers from his organization, “Save Our Allies,” to help victims of Hurricane Helene in the Southeast. He expressed frustration over the lack of federal response and leadership in coordinating rescue and evacuation efforts, stating that it should not fall on private entities to shoulder this responsibility.
Kennedy wasn’t alone in his criticism; Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also expressed disappointment with the federal government’s response to the hurricane. As the death toll rose to 227, the administration faced increasing scrutiny for its perceived inadequacies in addressing this crisis.
Tim Kennedy had some pointed words to about President Joe Biden on Wednesday. Kennedy, a U.S. Army Green Berets Master Sergeant and Special Forces sniper, is known for his stints on various television shows, along with his MMA fighting career.
When devastation strikes, Kennedy has been known to rush in to use his unique experience to help those in need. The master sergeant previously traveled to Afghanistan during the 2021 withdrawal to help those caught up in the calamity, for example.
This past week, Kennedy and others rushed to the Southeast to help those affected by the historically devastating Hurricane Helene.
As was the case with Afghanistan, many have pointed blame at President Biden for failing to address the crisis effectively.
Kennedy is among that number.
In fact, according to the Special Forces operator, the president directly impeded rescue efforts to take a “photo op.”
“There was a ‘No Fly’ when the president flew in today,” Kennedy told Fox News’ “The Bottom Line” on Wednesday. “We had to land helicopters to not go rescue people so a photo op could take place.”
“That’s a travesty and that’s unconscionable.”
Kennedy traveled with Save Our Allies — an NGO Kennedy founded and serves as president of — into the Southeast to aid in rescue and evacuation efforts.
Kennedy said he, his team and others working together to save Americans in need have worked tirelessly with little help from federal government officials.
“My heart is full to see Americans rise to the occasion like they always do, but it’s not our responsibility to have to go and answer the call like this,” Kennedy said.
“Save Our Allies has so many important relationships within the government that enable us to do these expeditionary missions, and we’re so grateful for those partnerships… but it shouldn’t be necessary.”
Where is the federal response and the plan and the… command center that should be running all of this?”
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both visited areas in the Southeastern United States separately this past week, according to The Washington Post.
The outlet reported that Biden would “tour more storm damage in Georgia and Florida” after visiting the western mountains of North Carolina where “the [death] toll was especially high.”
On Saturday, CNN reported that the total death toll of Hurricane Helene had risen to 227 people across six affected states.
Kennedy isn’t the only one to criticize the current administration’s response to Helene.
On Friday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said he was “alarmed and disappointed” by the federal effort, per the National Review.
“They are scrambling to cover their egregious errors and mistakes. And there’s an effort to blame others or blame circumstances when this is just purely a lack of leadership and response,” Johnson said.
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