Trump plays politics with disaster aid (and everything else) again.

At the start of September, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine asked for federal help in 23 counties after severe storms tore through the state. Trump sat on the request. Until the time was just right. During an Ohio rally for unelected Republican Senator Jon Husted, Trump announced to the crowd that he had just signed a disaster declaration. He wanted to boost Husted with it since he's in a tight race against Democrat Sherrod Brown. Ohio is not an exception. The Associated Press reports that Trump has repeatedly announced disaster relief funds only when it serves the candidates he endorses. In Wisconsin, he endorsed the Republican for governor and announced disaster funds in the same Truth Social post. “18 Million Dollars should help, A LOT,” he said. At a rally for Michael Whatley in North Carolina, Trump brought up the billions in relief that the state had requested for Hurricane Helene. “Now if Michael loses,” he said, “I’m not sending it.” The President claimed he was only joking. But this isn’t just a joke. It’s a reality. While the White House claims “there is no politicization of the president’s decisions on disaster relief,” Politico found otherwise. In his first 14 months, Trump had approved 23 percent of requests from Democratic-led states. That compares to 89 percent from Republican-led states. And the line is still long. When Trump approved Ohio’s request, nine other states were still waiting. That includes two from Hawaii, one an expedited request after back-to-back hurricanes in August and September. Presidents typically approve expedited requests within days. And this is no joking matter either. When your house floods, you don’t care who you voted for. Neither should your government. But Trump is toying with American lives, treating disaster recovery like some sick political game. And he’s telling you right from the campaign stage.