President Donald Trump tied a disaster funding announcement for Wisconsin to his endorsement of Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany on Wednesday, drawing swift condemnation from critics who argue emergency relief is being politicized during the midterm campaign sprint.
As emergency responders monitor a major hurricane bearing down on the U.S. Gulf Coast, the intersection of federal disaster declarations and campaign politics has taken center stage in the closing weeks of the midterm elections. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump publicized an influx of disaster funds for Wisconsin while backing Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in his bid for governor against Democratic nominee David Crowley.
The announcement paired federal aid directly with political messaging, a tactic the administration has repeated across multiple battleground states. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ office stated they had not been informed about the money prior to the social media post, prompting the governor to respond publicly.
“Clearly, President Trump and Congressman Tiffany are continuing to play politics with emergency aid that’s meant to help communities recover in the wake of disasters like tornadoes and floods.”
Tony Evers, Governor of Wisconsin
Federal Relief Tied to Campaign Stops in North Carolina and Ohio
The Wisconsin announcement follows similar events in other states where disaster declarations and recovery funding intersected with campaign rallies. During a North Carolina rally for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley, Trump addressed the billions in federal aid the state is still awaiting in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene two years ago.
Trump told the crowd, Now if Michael loses, I’m not sending it
before immediately adding, No, I’m only kidding, you’re getting it.
While local congressional candidate Jennifer Balkcom defended the remarks to WLOS ABC News 13 as an attempt to persuade voters, community organizers found the delivery alarming. Jon Council of Down Home North Carolina criticized the rhetoric, noting it failed to reflect the serious conditions on the ground for taxpayers.
In Ohio last Saturday, Trump signed a major disaster declaration for the state following August severe weather just ahead of a rally in Vandalia with Republican Senator Jon Husted. The declaration provides direct assistance to seven of the 23 requested counties. The approval arrived while 15 other disaster requests from states, tribes, and territories remained pending, including two from Hawaii following back-to-back hurricanes.
White House Rejects Accusations While Advocates Question Integrity
Administration officials strongly deny that political considerations influence emergency declarations. White House spokesperson Lauren Bis rejected the criticism on Tuesday, stating, There is no politicization to the president’s decisions on disaster relief.
A FEMA spokesperson echoed that stance, asserting that accusations of political motivation misrepresent how the agency fulfills its mission.
Disaster survivor advocates argue that tying aid to elections undermines public trust. Sierra Lindsey-Kos, co-founder and co-executive director of Extreme Weather Survivors, emphasized that Recovery isn’t partisan,
adding that neighbors help one another without regard to political affiliation. Rafael LeMaitre, who served as a FEMA spokesperson under former President Barack Obama, noted that even creating the perception of a link between disaster relief and votes damages the integrity of emergency management systems.
Administration Approves More Disaster Requests from Trump States
Analysts tracking presidential disaster declarations point to broader historical patterns alongside recent shifts. Andrew Rumbach, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, observed that politicians have consistently sought advantages from disasters, though he characterized the current administration’s behavior as unusual and concerning. An Associated Press analysis from July reported that the administration approved more than three-quarters of disaster requests from states that voted for Trump in the 2024 election, compared to less than half from states that did not.
Questions regarding political messaging have also extended into FEMA’s own public communications. A September news release detailing preparations for a nor’easter explicitly listed 18 Republican members of Congress that agency leadership worked with closely, while omitting Democratic lawmakers representing similarly affected states. A FEMA spokesperson did not address inquiries regarding why only Republican representatives were named in the agency’s release.