--- title: "President Trump Approves Disaster Declarations for Wisconsin and Ohio" url: https://newscentral.site/president-trump-approves-disaster-declarations-for-wisconsin-and-ohio/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Politics" published: 2026-10-08T02:58:24.000Z updated: 2026-10-08T12:56:12.795Z id: 8cd8cf25-0757-4d7a-ada9-f3b20faeb102 source: "ABC News Politics https://abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory/disaster-relief-funding-creeping-trumps-midterm-rhetoric-critics-137076581" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/president-trump-approves-disaster-declarations-for-wisconsin-and-ohio/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # President Trump Approves Disaster Declarations for Wisconsin and Ohio President Donald Trump has approved disaster declarations for consequential states, including Wisconsin and Ohio, while also announcing funding commitments to support storm relief efforts. As a major hurricane bears down on the US Gulf Coast, President Donald Trump has begun incorporating disaster relief into his midterm election campaign rhetoric. This shift in tone has raised concerns that the administration is politicizing disaster recovery efforts. In recent days, Trump has approved disaster declarations for consequential states, including Wisconsin and Ohio, while also announcing funding commitments to support storm relief efforts. These moves have been coupled with high-profile endorsements of Republican candidates, sparking accusations that the president is using emergency relief as a campaign tool. Trump's approach to disaster relief has become increasingly intertwined with his election campaigning, with the president using his platform to pledge millions in aid to affected areas while also making pointed remarks about rival politicians. For instance, he recently joked that he would withhold funding from North Carolina if Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley lost. Critics of the administration's approach argue that disaster recovery efforts should be prioritized over partisan politics. "Recovery isn't partisan," said Sierra Lindsey-Kos, co-founder and co-executive director of Extreme Weather Survivors, a nonprofit advocacy group representing disaster survivors. The White House has denied allegations that it's injecting partisan politics into disaster relief efforts by highlighting funding announcements alongside endorsements for Republican candidates. In recent social media posts, President Trump has linked his support for certain candidates to new disaster funding allocations, a move critics argue blurs the line between legitimate aid and electioneering. For instance, Trump announced $17.9 million in disaster funds would be going to Wisconsin, where he's backing Republican candidate Tiffany in the governor's race against Democratic nominee David Crowley. The White House maintains that there is no politicization of disaster relief decisions, with spokesperson Lauren Bis stating on Tuesday that "there is no politicization to the president's decisions on disaster relief. However, this stance has been disputed by critics who argue that linking aid announcements to election endorsements undermines the integrity of disaster recovery efforts. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' office in Wisconsin expressed surprise and concern when informed about Trump's post announcing the new funding allocation, with Evers responding on social media to criticize what he sees as politics being played with emergency aid meant for communities affected by disasters like tornadoes and floods. FEMA has confirmed that President Trump approved disaster declarations for three states: Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Guam. However, these announcements were not made on social media, unlike his previous declaration of new funding allocations for disaster relief. Critics argue that even the perception of linking disaster relief to votes is a breach of protocol. According to Rafael LeMaitre, a former FEMA spokesperson under President Barack Obama, such behavior undermines the integrity of the disaster management system and erodes public trust in government handling of disasters. At a recent rally for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley in North Carolina, Trump acknowledged that the state was still waiting on billions of dollars in federal recovery funds for Hurricane Helene. He then made a comment about withholding funding if his opponent lost the election, sparking controversy among some observers. Republican congressional candidate Jennifer Balkcom defended Trump's comments, suggesting that he might have been joking or trying to persuade voters to support Whatley. However, others found the remark off-putting, according to Jon Council of Down Home North Carolina, an organizing group in the region. Critics are questioning the timing of President Trump's disaster relief funding announcements in his midterm campaign rhetoric. At a recent rally in Ohio, Trump mentioned that he had signed a special" disaster declaration for the state following severe weather in August, claiming that he took care of it after being asked by Republican Senator Jon Husted. The major disaster declaration for Ohio will provide direct assistance to residents of seven counties out of 23 requested by Governor Mike DeWine, while 15 other requests from states, tribes, and territories remain pending. Among those waiting are two from Hawaii, which experienced back-to-back hurricanes in August and September. Notably, Trump's administration had not addressed these pending disaster relief requests before visiting Oklahoma and Nebraska last week. Experts like Andrew Rumbach, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute who tracks presidential disaster declarations, believe that politicians often use disasters to their advantage, but are concerned by this White House's behavior in this case. The White House's approach to disaster relief has been closely scrutinized by experts who suspect that politicians often exploit natural disasters for electoral gain. However, a recent analysis revealed that President Trump's administration has approved more than three-quarters of requests from states that voted for him in the last election, but less than half from those that did not. FEMA officials have sought to distance themselves from these claims, insisting that disaster decisions are guided by objective criteria rather than partisan considerations. Yet, internal communications suggest otherwise. A recent news release highlighted the agency's collaboration with 18 Republican lawmakers during a nor'easter storm, while omitting any mention of Democratic representatives despite serving states with Democratic leadership. The omission has raised eyebrows among observers who point out that this selective acknowledgment of party affiliation undermines the apolitical nature of disaster relief efforts. As the debate over the White House's approach to disaster funding continues, one thing is clear: the intersection of politics and natural disasters remains a contentious issue in American governance. --- Source: [ABC News Politics](https://abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory/disaster-relief-funding-creeping-trumps-midterm-rhetoric-critics-137076581) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/president-trump-approves-disaster-declarations-for-wisconsin-and-ohio/