WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden issued a stark warning to that effect Wednesday Dangerous hurricane headed for Floridahit disinformation about the storm, including a particular conspiracy theory promoted by Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
“The allegations are getting even weirder. Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is now saying that the federal government literally controls the air — we control the air. It’s not ridiculous. It has to stop,” Biden said. During a virtual briefing at the White House while receiving updates on Hurricane Milton. The the storm is expected to make landfall Wednesday in Florida and could be catastrophic for the region.
Greene said in a statement on October 3 Type in X: “Yes they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous that someone would lie and say it can’t be done.”
One of Greene’s GOP colleagues, Rep. Carlos Giménez of Florida, X wrote a reply Wednesday morning: “Humans cannot create or control hurricanes. Anyone who thinks they can should have their head examined.”
At the same time as Biden’s briefing on Wednesday, Greene repeated his claim and suggested the federal government was aware of it.
“Well, some of them are listed with NOAA, as well as most of the weather modification pathways, because they are required by the Weather Modification Act of 1972 to report it to the Secretary of Commerce,” he said. He wrote in X. “The NOAA government website has a library catalog of 1,026 weather change entries, but that’s not all.”
He continued: “If your home, business or property is damaged or loved ones are killed as a result of their weather changes, you can’t be entitled to compensation? After all, they asked you if you agree with our weather changes?”
On Tuesday, he quoted an article from The Gateway Pundit, a far-right website known for spreading conspiracy theories: “Marjorie Taylor Greene was right. Yes, scientists do control the weather.”
In a briefing Wednesday, Biden said Greene’s conspiracy theory was among the “reckless, irresponsible and relentless promotion of disinformation and outright lies” over the past few weeks. The president said it undermined rescue efforts after Hurricane Helene and accused former President Donald Trump of leading an “onslaught of lies.” “Allegations have been made that the property has been confiscated. This is simply not true,” he said. “They’re saying that the people affected by these storms are going to get $750 in cash and nothing more. That’s just not true. They’re saying that the money needed for this crisis is going to migrants. What a ridiculous thing to say – it’s not. . is true.”
The The Federal Emergency Management Agency has created a website Dealing with the flood of rumors about the hurricanes, including the false claim that FEMA was directing disaster assistance to migrants.
NBC News has reached out to Green’s office and the Trump campaign for comment.
Another Republican, Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina He made a comment by hitting on Tuesday “Outrageous rumors” about Hurricane Helene and the federal government’s response.
“Hurricane Helene was not geoengineered by the government to capture and access the lithium deposits at Chimney Rock,” he said. “No one can control the weather.”