In 2019, Alabama residents became unnecessarily alarmed after then-President Trump incorrectly said Hurricane Dorian was headed their way. However, instead of acknowledging that he made a mistake, Trump questioned the National Weather Service and showed Americans a falsified weather map – which is contrary to the law.
opinion columnist
LZ Granderson
LZ Granderson writes about culture, politics, sports, and living life in America.
Today the former president is telling lies about federal relief efforts and resources at a time when those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton need guidance and help. State and local Republicans have called on him to stop, because misinformation apparently derails rescue and relief efforts. Of course, Trump doesn't care as long as his lies also ruin the election.
What can I say? Same Trump, different year.
After intentionally downplaying the threat of COVID-19 in those early months of 2020, Trump said he intentionally misled the public to avoid panic. As a result, we were ill-prepared as a country. Our hospitals were quickly overwhelmed, with people dying in school gymnasiums and bodies held in refrigerated trucks while morgues overflowed.
The pandemic started when he lied to us about the severity of the virus. Four years later, and once again, Trump's instinct as a leader during a national crisis is to lie to the American people and complain about “The View.”
Choices have consequences. Trump's first term added $8.4 trillion to the national debt and forced rape victims to give birth after the overturning of Roe v. Wade by Trump judges. If you flip through Project 2025, the plan conservatives put together to reshape the federal government under a second Trump administration, you'll see that Round 2 would be much worse.
Trump would even make natural disasters worse.
The 2025 plan calls for breaking up and selling large portions of the federal government agency dedicated to collecting climate data: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That's where the National Hurricane Center is located. The expert who suggested Trump eliminate this parts agency, Thomas F. Gilman, worked his entire life in the auto industry before joining Trump's Commerce Department in 2019, the same year Trump redrawn the path of a hurricane with a Sharpie.
Project 2025 aims to replace tens of thousands of experienced public officials who have relevant expertise with political appointees who are loyal to Trump first: people like Gilman. If you're still wondering how bad that could be, consider that as the nation prepared for Hurricane Milton, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, one of Trump's allies, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), used her platform . telling Americans that “they” control the climate.
He didn't say who “they” are, how they're doing it, or what House Republicans would do to stop… “them.” It sounds absurd because it is. But don't confuse the absurd with the inconsequential. Choices have consequences.
Greene might believe 9/11 was a hoax, but Republicans who know better put her on the Homeland Security Committee to appease Trump. The committee's official website claims it was formed “in 2002 after September 11, 2001,” and yet GOP leaders put a denier on the panel to appease someone they know is lying about the efforts. of hurricane relief at this time. Loyalty to Trump is the only currency that matters to some of these people. No experience, no traditional conservative values, no integrity.
This is how the party of Lincoln has sadly become the party that responds to national emergencies by scapegoating others: claiming that “they” control the climate; “they” are eating pets; “they” are paid actors rather than traumatized survivors of a school shooting. To this day, House Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to say who won the 2020 election. Instead, when reporters ask, he accuses them of throwing him “trap questions,” which may be good for his relationship with Trump but doesn't help the country in any way.
All of which brings me here: For more than 50 years, ever since Richard M. Nixon took on John F. Kennedy, televised debates have been a benchmark in presidential politics. With Trump in the spotlight, the first Republican primary debate of 2016 gave Fox the most-watched non-sports event in cable history. The second debate also received high ratings. Trump didn't start missing primary debates until Fox News announced it would use videos of previous appearances to hold candidates accountable for their words.
That's why he and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), oppose fact-checking during debates and interviews. Accountability is why Trump avoided debating Ambassador Nikki Haley during the 2024 primary. It's why he got into a fight with reporters at a press conference last summer. That's why he's afraid to debate Vice President Kamala Harris again.
When a businessman is used to escaping the consequences of his misdeeds by filing for bankruptcy as frequently as Trump has, I can understand why he would feel uncomfortable being held accountable.
However, a president or candidate can no more avoid accountability than the country can escape the consequences of an election. Trump's lies in office did harm. His lies today are hurting people who need help. And no one should be surprised: In every crisis, Trump has proven himself to be a liar, not a leader.
@LZGranderson
